THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is eyeing to revisit its forest-protection strategy and find ways to enhance the campaign against illegal-logging activities.
Director Nonito M. Tamayo of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB) said it has been five years since the forest-protection strategy of the DENR was revised.
“In the next few weeks, we will call a national meeting to revisit our forest-protection strategy. We might need to update our strategy and look for new technology,” he said.
The official said there is “no letup” in the DENR’s campaign against illegal-logging activities and, in fact, the number of illegal-logging hot spots has been reduced from 23 to 15.
“Our effort to bring down the number of illegal-logging hot spot has paid off,” Tamayo said.
Ildefonso L. Quilloy, senior forest management specialist and technical staff of Tamayo, sent this list of illegal-logging hot spots as of December 2018:
1. Mangatarem, Pangasinan
2. Baggao, Isabela
3. Peñablanca, Cagayan
4. Dingalan, Aurora
5. Brooke’s Point, Palawan
6. Taytay, Palawan
7. Cateel, Davao Oriental
8. Nabunturan, Compostella Valley
9. Loreto, Agusan del Sur
10. San Luis, Agusan del Sur
11. Talacogon, Agusan del Sur
12. La Paz, Agusan del Sur
13. Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
14. Lingig, Surigao del Sur
15. Lianga, Surigao del Sur
Tamayo said he is not keen on recommending a policy change when it comes to the logging ban imposed through Executive Order 23 on February 1, 2011, by then-President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The order declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural land residual forests. It also paved the way for the creation of the anti-illegal-logging task force.
The idea to lift the logging moratorium was brought up during the recent Forest and Wood Industry Summit held in Mandaluyong City on January 29.
With the theme “Sustainable Forest Management: The Role of Wood Industry in Nation Building,” the summit aimed to come up with a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the forestry and wood products sector, and transform it into a growth industry.
“I was asked if I can consider recommending to the secretary the logging moratorium. I said ‘no.’ Personally, I like it and that is what the President [Duterte] and Secretary Cimatu really want,” he said.
The Philippines has been dependent on imported wood to meet its domestic wood requirements over the past several decades, “causing a huge drain in the country’s dollar reserves.”
During the period 2006-2015, locally sourced wood accounted for only 25 percent or 1.5 million cubic meters, while 75 percent or 4.5 million cubic meters are imported.
Today, Tamayo said, the Philippines is producing only around 1 million cubic meters and is importing around 5 million cubic meters of wood to meet the estimated demand of 6 million cubic meters for the country’s wood industry.