Less illegal loggings noted in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported on Saturday, March 9, that there was a remarkable decline in number, volume and frequency of reported illegal logging cases in the Cagayan Valley region.

As a result, two towns in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) have been stricken off from the list of illegal logging hot spots based on the 2023 Forest Management Bureau report, the DENR said.

Ismael Manaligod, DENR assistant regional executive director for technical services, said in an interview with reporters that the towns of Baggao in Cagayan and Jones in Isabela were delisted from hot spots in the country due to a decline in number, volume and frequency of illegal logging reported cases.

The illegal forest products seized at the south and north Cagayan Valley Product Monitoring Stations originated from nearby regions, hence they were excluded from the region’s hot spot data occurrence, explained Manaligod.

In 2023, the concerned government agency gathered reports on cases of illegal activities and apprehension of forest products came from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Manaligod said that although the two illegal logging hot spots have been neutralized in the region, there is still a need for the implementation of more intensified measures to ensure conservation and protection of natural resources, particularly in forestlands and watershed areas.

Toward this goal, Manaligod said the DENR Region 2, through the leadership of Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan, will continue to strengthen its forest protection convergence initiatives with Region 1 (Ilocos Region) and CAR.

Toward this end, he added, the DENR Region 2 will continue its collaboration with the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units and other law enforcement agencies.

Manaligod also urged the public to report to the Environment department any illegal environmental activities for action.