MB: 28,549 board feet of illegally cut logs seized in Bulacan

By Freddie C. Velez

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy- Alvarado urged residents in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, as well as in all mountain towns in the province to help in protecting Bulacan mountains most especially the rain forest at Ipo dam watershed area.

ILLEGAL LUMBER SEIZED – Members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force

(PAILTF) chaired by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado through the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) confiscate 28,549 board feet of illegal flitches amounting to P1,141,960 during their 3-day operation at Sumacbao River, Doña Remedios Trinidad – Angat Watershed area.

On Sunday, the governor made the call after the Provincial Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force together with the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources, DENR, Philippine Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion and the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmentalists Society Inc. (SSMESI) seized an illegally cut logs in the Sumacbao river of this mountain town a few days ago.

Governor Alvarado said, members of the PAILTF confiscate 28,549 board feet of illegal flitches amounting to P1,141,960 during their 3-day operation at Sumacbao River, DRT – Angat Watershed area.

The governor said that the operation is part of the PGB’s commitment to protect the environment, and will continue to intensify operations against illegal logging and other unlawful activities that cause irrevocable damages to the environment and to the Bulakenyo as well.

“Ang mga residente sa bulubunduking lugar ng lalawigan ng Bulacan ang dapat mangunguna sa pagtulong at pagbabantay sa kalusugan ng ating kabundukan dahil sila ang unang masasalanta kapag mayroong kalamidad na di inaasahan.This is quite alarming since according to the report, 70 percent of rain forest, including centuries-old trees, at the watershed area of Ipo dam have been destroyed due to unabated illegal logging activities,” Alvarado said.

He said that it is high time that every Bulakenyos should be serious in protecting the Bulacan mountains by helping the forest guards and the local government units in monitoring the vast watershed areas so they can immediately respond the illegal activities going on.