By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Sept. 8 (PNA) – An executive order signed by President Benigno Aquino III over three years ago to boost the government’s campaign against illegal logging has helped to significantly reduce the illegal logging hotpots from 197 to 31 as of June this year.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje reported this to the Senate finance committee during Monday’s public hearing on DENR’s proposed Php20.85 billion budget for 2015.
”The illegal logging hotspots were significantly reduced from 197 to 31 because of our campaign through E.O. 23,” Paje told the Senate panel chaired by Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.
Paje said the DENR intends to neutralize the remaining 31 hotspot areas in the next two years.
He also reported that the government has confiscated 4.79 million board feet of illegally cut and transported forest products, leading to the filing of 256 logging cases and conviction of 55 persons.
The DENR chief attributed their success in anti-illegal logging campaign to effective monitoring of 7.2 million hectare forest land using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance or DRONE hired from the private companies.
For 2015, Paje said over Php500 million has been allotted for forest protection and anti-illegal logging campaign Php517 for protected areas and biodiversity conservation.
Out of the proposed Php20.85 billion budget for next year, the DENR has set aside Php7 billion for the national greening program with a target area of 1.5 million hectares.
Senator Loren Legarda reminded the DENR about its mandate to push and train the local government units (LGUs) for the proper implementation of the solid waste management.
Legarda made her call after fellow Senator Cynthia Villar questioned the only Php2 million allotted for the preservation of the Las Pinas- Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA).
”We kept on picking garbage at the LPPCHEA and yet you have only Php2 million for its preparation and operation,” Villar said.
Villar proposed a higher budget for LPPCHEA which Escudero supported, saying the existing four trash boats are not to clean the whole Manila Bay.
Legarda said if the LGUs within the Manila Bay area could implement properly the Solid Waste Management Law, “there will be no need to acquire new trash boats to clean Manila Bay.”
Paje told the finance committee that DENR is contemplating on purchasing 20 additional trash boats.
The environment official said the DENR’s proposed budget is Php2 billion lower compared to this year’s budget.
”The reduction was deliberate because the Php2 billion for this year was one-shot procurement of two vessels to be used to patrol the country’s vast coastal areas,” Paje explained. (PNA)