Cordillera cops confiscate P1 million illegal lumber

By Joseph B Zambrano

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A total of 24,720.50 board feet of assorted lumber worth P986,950 was confiscated by Cordillera January to date.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, bared this saying they intensified campaign against illegal cutting of trees and transport of illegal lumber to preserve and protect the environment and upon the order of President Aquino who visited the region recently.

The Cordillera is the watershed of the lowlands, Magalong said, thus people living in the region should guard and save the forests from exploitation by unscrupulous people.

Magalog added they coordinated with municipal and city mayors and barangay captains to conduct upland monitoring to ensure that no illegal logging, kaingin and other forms of forest destruction take place.

Policemen in the Cordillera are also helping in environment proects as every cop is mandated to plant six tree seedlings a month for a total of 72 a year.