Folk, officials impose no logging policy in Conner

CONNER, Apayao – Local folk and officials here have imposed a “no logging policy” in this remote town following attempts of logging concessionaires to establish concessions.

Two veteran local legislators of this town said no logging concessionaire would be permitted to operate here since the local government unit is geared to protect remaining forests,

SB member Jose Hortelano said since their incumbency, logging concessionaires who tried to log in Conner were turned down.

“The people in communities whose forests lands are targeted for logging vehemently oppose moves of logging companies,” said Hortelano who was recently elected provincial board member for District 1 in the province.

According to Hortelano, a certain Furniture Groups Incorporated (FGI) expressed interest to extract wood in commercial volume but was turned down by the communities and the LGU.

Re-elected SB member Nicholas Abawag aired the same commitment to make Conner free from from commercial logging since forest lands logged three decades ago have not yet fully recovered into at least a second growth forest.

He said part of their legislative agenda is to impose stiffer laws against commercial logging. “With Leonardo Dangoy as the new chief executive of Conner LGU, any attempt of logging companies to operate has to pass the eye of the needle,” Abawag said. -- PIA