DPWH leads Maasin greening drive; logs seized in Ormoc

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE – Government and private sector employees and volunteers actively participated in a tree planting activity yesterday in Barangay Laboon, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, where more than 1,000 seedlings were planted.

The activity was initiated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte District Engineering Office, headed by District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia, in coordination with the Bogo Women’s Association and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) based in Maasin City.

Meantime in Ormoc City, authorities seized illegally cut logs in Barangay Quezon yesterday the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Eastern Visayas office reported.

Maasin greening program DENR – Eastern Visayas Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that the tree planting activity was part of Maasin City’s greening program and also its share in the DENR’s National Greening Program (NGP).

Sibbaluca said that NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation program of the government established by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 issued on Feb. 24, 2011 by President Aquino.

It is aimed at cultivating and growing 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide within a period of six years, from 2011 to 2016, he added.

Illegaly-cut logs seized Sibbaluca said 11,777.47 board feet of lumber with an estimated value of R600,000 were confiscated during a raid carried out by the composite team of police and military personnel.

The logs were stockpiled on a roadside and were set to be hailed off by waiting trucks.

Sibbaluca said the logs were brought to the Ormoc City Police Office and the 802nd Infantry Brigade military camp in Ormoc City for custody and proper disposition.