Ilocos police DENR to sign MOA on nature

By Mar T. Supnad

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur- The Police Regional Office 1 under Chief Supt. Franklin Jesus B. Bucayu and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Region 1 headed by Regional Executive Director Samuel R. Peñafiel, will soon sign a memorandum of agreement on anti- illegal logging to conserve and protect the ecosystem.

This development came after Bucayu and Peñafiel agreed to create a technical working group to finalize the draft of the MOA during the 3rd Regional Anti-illegal Logging Task Force meeting held at the DENR-I in Sevilla, San Fernando City, La Union last week.

Under the proposed MOA, PRO1 will provide support and security to the anti-illegal operations that includes intelligence build-up, identification of target personalities violating environmental laws and assistance in prosecuting offenders.

Bucayu said implementing rules and regulations needed to have clearer implementation of the intricacies and technicalities of said MOA. “We also further conduct seminars and trainings for our police personnel to educate them on how to respond and handle cases of illegal logging.”

Bucayu, proponent of the TWG, emphasized the importance of the MOA to strengthen the campaign and for successful prosecution of illegal loggers through joint venture and better coordination.

The MOA will provide guidelines in enforcing laws on illegal logging, it enhances knowledge and policies on environmental laws, clarify responsibilities, identify limitations, joint monitoring of filed cases, and binds  concerned government agencies to include the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the common purpose.

Peñafiel said assistance of other agency like the PNP is vital in implementing anti-illegal logging operations since DENR is undermanned. He also announced his plan to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and laptop computers on various checkpoints and chokepoints near the identified hotspots.

Bucayu likewise proposed a joint project of the PNP-DENR and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority on the matter of manufacturing tables chairs and other furniture out of the confiscated hot logs and to be donated to public schools.

He added aside from the MOA, the PRO1 initiated its own campaign dubbed as “PRO1 IMPLAN KAGUBATAN” and the ongoing “Pulis Makakalikasan” program wherein every police personnel need to plant 72 seedlings for the duration of one year or six seedlings every month.

Meanwhile, the RTF, established five checkpoints region-wide and being manned by the DENR personnel and deputized PNP personnel.

DENR-I revealed that a total of 32 cases were filed in court wherein eight cases resulted to convictions, 19 are on trial and five were dismissed.

The Regional Anti- Illegal Logging Task Force was by Executive Order No. 23 issued on Feb. 1, 2011 with the DENR as chairman, DILG-I as vice- chair, and the 703rd Infantry Brigade headed by Brig.Gen. Gregorio “Pio” Catapang, 7th Infantry Division of the Army and PRO1 sit as members.