“I would like to appeal to the public to report to the nearest DENR Office any environmental illegal activities for us to alert our concerned officials and conduct immediate verification or investigation to reported issues."

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 emphasized this as she ordered more vigilance against illegal logging in Cagayan Valley following the two apprehension incidents that happened in a row in the province of Nueva Vizcaya.

 

On Sept. 14, this year, the PENR Office of Nueva Vizcaya through the Cagayan Valley Product Monitoring Station (CAVAPROMS) again apprehended over four million-peso worth of Narra lumber.

 

The Narra lumber, loaded in a 14-wheeler cargo truck, was intercepted by DENR personnel stationed at the south exit monitoring point located in Barangay Calitlitan in Aritao town.

 

“I was alarmed of these apprehension incidents. I always order the DENR enforcement group to be proactive in forest protection. I told them that our approach is preventive rather than confiscation. Nonetheless, I commend the PENRO through the CAVAPROMS team headed by Development Management Officer III Jay Marshal Jasmin for being vigilant in manning the checkpoint,” RED Bambalan said in a radio interview yesterday.

 

She said although the contraband forest products were not originated in Region 2, the region is strengthening the forest protection convergence initiatives with Region 1 and Cordillera Administrative Region for a stringent anti-illegal logging campaign of the Department.

 

Earlier in her directive, the regional environment chief has been ordering all forest protection officers manning the checkpoints in the region to ensure that no conveyance or forest product without transport permit shall pass through the checkpoint.

 

In his verification report, Jasmin said the 281 pieces of lumber with a total volume of 8,155 board feet were undocumented and had no legal travel documents which originated from Barangay Buwaya, Balbalan in Kalinga province.

 

The three individuals manning the truck are now under the custody of Aritao Police Office for investigation.

 

On Monday, two Hi-ace vans loaded with Narra lumber with an estimated value of almost 1 million pesos were apprehended by the DENR and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

 

RED Bambalan appreciated the support of PNP Sta Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, and PNP San Nicolas, Pangasinan for the successful hot pursuit operation last September 12.#