Año orders LGUs, police to crack down on illegal logging, quarrying

November 23, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday directed local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to crackdown on illegal logging and quarrying and expedite planting of trees in coordination with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Año made the directive after the widespread flooding caused by Typhoon Ulysses last November 12.

He said all LGUs and PNP units across the country must prioritize the protection of the environment.

“We must act quickly and in a whole-of-society fashion to protect our remaining forests across the country otherwise we are creating and causing more disasters for our country,” he said.

“The flooding brought by Typhoon Ulysses is a harsh reminder that we are failing at doing our level best to protect the environment, especially our remaining forest cover,” Año added.

Año said the widespread flooding in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Marikina, Rizal and in other parts of the country should be a wake-up call  to protect the remaining forest cover of the country, preserve rich biodiversity, and allow forests to grow again.

Año said all LGUs and PNP units must reactivate their local anti-illegal logging task forces in coordination with the provincial and community environment and natural resources office of the DENR.

He reminded all LGUs that under DENR Memorandum Circular 2011 all municipal and city mayors, though their respective barangay captains, are to conduct upland monitoring “to ensure that no illegal logging, kaingin and other forms of forest destruction” take place within their jurisdictions.

They are ordered to report to their regional task forces , “through the provincial governor  or the DILG regional director,” incidents of forests destruction especially slash and burn farming (kaingin) and illegal logging activities.

Año also directed the PNP to set up checkpoints and arrest illegal loggers who violate the Revised Forestry Code with strict emphasis on Section 79 stipulating the “Unlawful Occupation or Destruction of Forest Lands and Grazing Lands.”

Año said illegal loggers will be criminally charged for violating the Forestry Code of the Philippines and the Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002, among others.

“It is imperative that we must stop the wanton destruction of our remaining forest resources not only for our sake but also for future generations who will suffer the consequences of our inaction,” he said.

He also urged all LGUs to deploy more forest guards and the DENR to deploy more foresters to monitor our forests and engage local communities and civil society organizations in reforestation programs particularly the National Greening Program. Ella Dionisio/DMS