Illegal logging

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

Despite the series of natural disasters that struck the country, the issue of whether a total log ban would be imposed on this Banana Republic deserves more scrutiny as it is not as simple as that, according to critics.

Some lawmakers are supporting the total ban like Sen. Francis Escudero who said this must be imposed, particularly in areas identified as disaster-prone by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Citing data from the DENR, Escudero said a total of 1,618 municipalities across the country are now considered disaster hot spots. He said a total log ban should include natural forests regardless of logging concessions issued by the government to certain companies to prevent environmental tragedies.

“This must be executed now to avoid further destruction of our environment and the senseless loss of lives and properties. It would be a shame on our part to watch lives flicker out before us when we can very well do something to prevent this,” Escudero said.

President Aquino earlier said illegal logging continues to be the main culprit of landslides that cause significant loss of life and damage to property. Aquino has cited the dire situation in several areas in Bicol and Eastern Visayas continually battered by floodwaters. The President thought of imposing a total log ban in flooded provinces after visiting Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Agusan.

Albay, Sorsogon and the Samar-Leyte and Agusan provinces have been experiencing heavy rains and flooding the past several weeks. Scores of people have died.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone supported Aquino’s plan to impose a total log ban in provinces that have been flooded the past several weeks.

“We should adopt drastic measures to offset the adverse effects of global warming. Since most of the country’s forests are already denuded, we must preserve our remaining forest cover and engage in massive tree-planting,” Evardone said.

The former journalist suggested government agencies offering scholarships like the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Education should require their scholars to plant trees.

Evardone said he is imposing the same requirement on his 2,000 scholars in his province. Escudero, however, acknowledged the imposition of a total log ban would affect livelihood of affected communities that rely on forest resources.

He emphasized though the ban should be coupled with alternative sources of livelihood. “This is now or never. Aside from the loss of lives, the country is stepping back further from development as we incur an annual average of P6.6 billion in economic losses based on the study of the United Nations,” Escudero said.

Renato Miranda, head of the DENR’s Task Force Pagbabago, the government’s anti-illegal logging and illegal mining task force, however cautioned against imposing a total log ban.

“Declaring total log ban without offering immediate source of livelihood now is very untimely especially when prices of basic goods, cost of living and petroleum prices thus transportation fares are increasing, gradual log ban may be appropriate,” Miranda said.

“The President should think twice before even signing total log ban order,” said the former Marine commander. Miranda explained a total log ban would definitely affect the livelihood of a large number of people, particularly in the Caraga region.

“If only the President will personally see for himself how poor most tree farmers are thus they ended up victims of this mafia-like illegal logging and illegal mining activities perpetuated by those in power and authority in cahoots with corrupt DENR officials and their wealthy businessmen and wood traders’ friends,” Miranda said.

Miranda admitted that in his nearly five months of surveillance work on illegal logging activities, he discovered that the beneficiaries are middlemen who deal with tree farmers or woodcutters, traders, and corrupt officials.

“Unless these corrupt government personnel are punished therefore must be stopped totally in their moneymaking activities, and sustaining livelihood as alternative of illegal logging and mining be put in place, government cannot stop illegal logging and mining since these were the only source of livelihood of many people in Caraga region” he added.

Miranda said what is needed is a comprehensive and strict implementation of environmental laws.

“Meaning, the DENR must be transparent, pro-active in implementing existing forest and environmental laws while looking for alternative livelihood for the people,” he said. A total log ban without providing immediate livelihood would leave many tree farmers and their immediate families and dependents in hunger, he said.

“Let us all put our house in order first, let us first offer alternative livelihood the soonest. Confiscating illegally cut logs on daily basis will not help solve the problem, what we need is to prevent people right in the forest (from) cutting trees,” Miranda added.

But according to dome indigenous tribes, lawmakers should not impose a total log ban considering that in indigenous lands or domains, there are trees which these people use to build houses, for firewood, woodcarving or other purposes.

If ever there would be a total log ban, he said, they wouldn’t be able to cut trees for their use considering that they were the ones who planted these in the first place.