No illegal logging in Pangasinan, say
AFTER a man was caught on September 21 hauling illegal lumber in Infanta town, the provincial government asserted that the incident was an isolated case and that illegal logging has been eliminated in Pangasinan.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leduina Co, speaking in a television interview, said the log ban continues to be the strictly enforced in the province as it has been in the past years.
A local television network reported last week the arrest of a truck driver identified later as Nestor Cervante of Bugallon town, accompanied by John Arieta of Binmaley town, after forest rangers caught them transporting 45 pieces of cut lumber of molave and guijo trees.
The TV report included an allegation from the arrested driver that Governor Amado Espino Jr. was the owner of the lumber and that the truck he was operating was hired to transport construction materials to a provincial government project.
However, Forest Ranger Michael Reinoso, speaking in a press conference called by the governor, said the two suspects actually did name the owner of the lumber.
Co denied that Cervante implicated the governor.
Espino, for his part, vehemently denied the allegation made in the TV report, reiterating his personal advocacy of environmental protection and tree planting activities for the past 17 years now.
The governor said the report was malicious and clearly intended to embarrass him.
He also pointed out that his unrelenting campaign against illegal logging has earned him enemies.
SPORADIC LOGGING
Co acknowledged, however, that there have been sporadic logging activities by residents near forest lands for firewood and building materials, activities that require permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Initial investigation showed that the lumber was bound for Sual and Binmaley towns.
The provincial government project contractor said he did not know where the driver got the lumber after the delivery of the construction materials at his site.
The case is now undergoing administrative proceeding and formal charges will be filed before the court against Cervante.
It will be recalled Pangasinan won the Likas Yaman Award in 2011 for its environmental protection program. (With report from DOS/PIA Pangasinan)
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