PEZA seeks easing of log ban ahead of agro-forestry zone creation

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it is preparing a position paper seeking to ease some restrictions on logging to facilitate the establishment of agro-forestry economic zones.

PEZA Director- General Charito B. Plaza told reporters the agency has briefed Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on coverting managed forests regulated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) into special economic zones.

The zones are intended to help revive the wood and related industries.

“Right now, the wood industry [ is hampered] by the log ban because of unclear policies. So now 100% of our timberlands are idle, unutilized. Which is why all of our wood industries have to import,” she added.

“We tried to convince the DENR that [we should] set up agro-forestry economic zones to revive the wood industry and permit the utilization of forest wood, so we don’t have to import.”

“We will give the import and export permit, we will give the certification if the industries in the agro- forestry [ economic zones] will purchase in the local market, so everything is monitored by PEZA,” Ms. Plaza said.

President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III issued executive order No. 23 in 2011, imposing a moratorium on cutting and harvesting lumber nationwide.

PEZA is pushing for the managed forest holdings of the defunct Paper Industries Corp. of the Philippines to be declared a special economic zone.

Ms. Plaza said PEZA is also in talks with State Universities and Colleges willing to turn their idle land into either agri-industrial economic zones or agro-forestry economic zones. —