The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 8 vows to intensify enforcement of environmental laws in 2020.
“An indicator of effective enforcement of environmental laws should lead to the conviction of their violators.” Regional Executive Director Tirso P. Parian stressed.
DENR 8 Enforcement Division Chief Forester Allen Cebuano, adds, “This year, we want to go beyond administrative adjudication. We want to further deter these violators by letting them know that we are serious in getting them penalized by the courts if they do not stop from committing threats against the environment.”
Cebuano further said that there is a need to support an aggressive enforcement of forest laws by well-equipped and competent forest officers, who are assisted by communities, stakeholders, and a police force.
“Significant figures would prove that joint operations with the police force often result to the offender’s detention, criminal prosecution, and conviction. We made it possible in 2019 to bring to court these violators through our linkage with other enforcement units such as the PNP and Philippine Army. We hope to intensify the enforcement of environmental laws this year,” added Cebuano.
Looking back at the major accomplishments of DENR 8 in environmental law enforcement in 2019, reports revealed that on January 9, 2019, the Regional Office Enforcement Division Team, through a joint operation with the Philippine Army and PNP Mobile Force stationed at San Isidro Northern Samar, apprehended 17 pieces boat keels and 1,736 pieces of lumber with equivalent volume of 28,930 board feet. A follow-up operation in the same area on March 3-5, 2019 resulted to another apprehension of lumber with an equivalent volume of 37,470 board feet. The total estimated value of the lumbers apprehended was pegged at Three Million Three Hundred Twenty Pesos (P3,320,00.00) at P50 per board foot.
Another joint operation with the 805th Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Force on July 10 resulted to the apprehension of 17 persons in the act of gathering agarwood in the forestland of New Taligue, Abuyog Leyte. Also found and apprehended in their possession were 2 units chainsaw, 10 axes, 8 long-bladed weapons, and a .38 caliber revolver with 5 live ammunition. A criminal complaint was filed against these persons with the assistance of CENRO Baybay for violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705.
“We want to really be successful in the implementation of our environmental protection programs. This could only be attained when incidents of environmental violation will be lessened if not totally controlled,” RED Parian says.
- Details
- Parent Category: News & Events
- Category: Press Releases
- Published: 18 February 2020