No tree-cutting permit issued in Southern Leyte – DENR

By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern Leyte
February 9, 2011

MAASIN CITY  –  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office here declared that no tree-cutting permit was issued in any place all over Southern Leyte province.

Ricardo Tomol, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), made the statement when Philippine Information Agency (PIA) called for updates today, in relation to the ban imposed by President Benigno Aquino III on logging operations across the country.

Last week, President Aquino signed Executive Order No. 23 imposing a moratorium on the cutting of trees nationwide, in the light of the killer floods and landslides that happened last month caused by successive days of non-stop rains.

PENRO Tomol said the President’s order for tree-cutting ban was directed at preserving natural and residual forests, but his agency is still awaiting the guidelines of EO 23 for specific details and instructions.

Still, in Southern Leyte province, no permits were issued for these areas, in accordance with an earlier law initiated by Cong. Roger Mercado which was similar in nature to the President’s EO 23, said Tomol.

What was issued permits are only for Community-based Forestry Management (CBFM) programs, and these involved planted trees in titled, private lots.