RELEC CV intensifies Anti-Illegal Logging Campaig

The Cagayan Valley Regional Law Enforcement Council (RELEC) held its 1st quarter meeting yesterday to intensify its monitoring and surveillance operations against illegal forest activities particularly in the region’s hot spot areas.

 

Regional Executive Director and RELEC chairperson Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 2 underscored in the meeting the importance of trees in ensuring the sustainability of all life forms giving off oxygen and taking in carbon dioxide to reduce global warming.

 

“The creation of this council aims to protect and conserve our trees. The council members play a vital role in protecting our forests,” said chairperson Bambalan.

 

The regional environment chief appealed to the representatives of Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other law enforcement agencies to support and heighten their monitoring in areas particularly in Baggao and Peñablanca in Cagayan; and Jones, Isabela.

 

“While we cannot avoid apprehending and confiscating unauthorized forest products passing through the region, it is best to stop cutting down of trees in the forest,” she added.

 

In his presentation of 2022 accomplishment, Enforcement Division Chief Joel Daquioag reported 105 DENR-PNP joint apprehension incidence with a total confiscation of 59,218.44 board feet forest products and 41 conveyances.

 

The meeting also intends to renew the commitment of council members in this year’s forest protection and law enforcement implementation programs.

 

DENR Legal Chief Atty. Richard Jayson Garan presented and facilitated the review on duties and responsibilities of council members to include the Philippine Air Force and Land Transportation Office.

 

In order to be updated on ENR policies, Director Bambalan recommended the conduct of reorientation on DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 97-32 known as “1997 Rules for the Administrative Adjudication of Illegal Forest Products and the Machinery, Equipment, Tools and Conveyances used in Connection Therewith,” to be attended by the Chief of Police and staff of the different municipalities and cities in the region.

 

She proposed to the group the inclusion of RELEC activities in the Regional Development Council Sub-Committee to further discuss strategic mechanism to curb illegal forest activities.

 

Atty. Johnlee Rumusud of the Legal Division also explained during the meeting the salient features of DAO 97-32.

Also joining the meeting was ARED for Technical Services Marcos Dacanay who discussed the meeting's objectives.

 

In 2020, a memorandum of agreement establishing the council was signed between and among the regional heads of DENR, PNP, PCG, PIA, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, and Archdiocese of Tuguegarao which represented the religious community.#