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DILG orders LGUs: Reactivate anti-illegal logging task forces

Philippines | National

DILG orders LGUs: Reactivate anti-illegal logging task forces

By Chito Chavez

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año directed the local government units (LGUs) on Monday to reactivate their respective Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force and be decisive in implementing environmental laws and programs and the anti-illegal logging campaign.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año
(NTF AGAINST COVID-19 / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

He also urged the LGUs and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to deploy more forest guards and engage the communities and civil society organizations in enforcing various reforestation programs.

In a statement, the DILG said it has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the LGUs to intensify their efforts in restricting illegal mining and logging.

The DILG added it also instructed the police and local governments to expedite the planting of trees in coordination with the DENR.

He also ordered the PNP to set up checkpoints and arrest illegal loggers.

“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 said.

Año stressed that the heavy flooding in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Marikina, Rizal and other parts of the country caused by the series of the recent typhoons should be a wake-up call to protect the environment.

Interviewed over GMA News on Monday, Año cited Presidential Decree 701 amended by Executive Order 277 series of 1987 and Republic Act 3701 or the act of regulating the ownership, possession, sale and use of chainsaws as among the anti-illegal logging laws that should be strictly enforced.

In the past, Año noted, the seized timber were donated to the Department of Education (DepEd) to build additional classrooms.

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