BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) — To carry out environmental protection efforts in Negros Occidental, there is a need for collaboration among agencies concerned, Provincial Environmental Management Officer Wilfred Ramon Peñalosa said.
Peñalosa said that in cases of illegal logging, his office always makes it a point to conduct investigations and coordinate with the Task Force Ilahas, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, and concerned local government units.
TFI is the environment enforcement unit of the provincial government.
Peñalosa said they held Wednesday a seminar on environmental protection for Philippine National Police personnel from all towns and cities in the province so that they will be guided in environmental law enforcement.
The provincial government has stepped up its environmental protection efforts recently in the wake of reports of rampant timber poaching inside the Northern Negros Forest Reserve and illegal fishing operations in Cauayan town in the south and Cadiz City in the north.
Peñalosa said cases have already been filed against those responsible for the illegal logging activities in Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona and in Cadiz City.
He also said that the Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force will augment the local government units with territorial waters to protect.
A separate two-day seminar for Bantay Dagat personnel will also be conducted shortly.