BY: HAZEL F. GLORIA
CEBU CITY, April 8 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) required a suspension in the processing and issuance of transport documents for firewood and charcoal in five (5) towns in Cebu.
DENR 7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said, the suspension in the issuance of transport papers covered Tuburan, San Remegio, Tabuelan, Asturias, and Balamban.
In a press statement, Montejo explained that the order is in reply to the rampant or widespread cutting of trees within the forestlands of these five towns where he personally observed during his recent visit to these places.
“We don’t want to compromise our efforts in the national greening program as we have been investing a lot of money and resources in our plantations,” Montejo added.
Montejo signed a memorandum dated April 3, 2014 addressed to Cebu provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO) Jose Cleo Cary Colis and community environment and natural resources officers (CENROs) Roldan Cotejo of Carmen, Cebu and Fedencio Carreon of Toledo City.
The said memorandum which took effect immediately stated that these forest products are being delivered to the urban centers or cities as firewood or charcoal with transport documents issued by the field offices despite the fact that these are coming from illegal sources.
The applicant should bring along a certificate of verification while in transit and in original copies during the duration of a specified date to be issued by a CENR Officer and must be a holder of a certificate of tree plantation ownership (CTPO).
The said certificate indicates the types of species, volume or quantity, date to be transported, among others.
Also, the transport of these minor forest products should accompany with a self-monitoring form (SMF) approved by a CENR Officer.
The DENR directed that the processing and issuance of transport documents for firewood and charcoal within the municipalities of Tuburan, San Remegio, Asturias, Balamban, and Tabuelan are completely suspended until further notice, the memorandum reads.
Montejo asked a formal report to be submitted by Colis, Cotejo and Carreon within a week upon receipt of the order.
He instructed Colis to vigorously pursue forest protection activities and those unscrupulous DENR personnel found to be undertaking the said malfeasance be penalized with administrative sanctions without prejudice to the filing of criminal case against them.
“I am directing our field officers to strictly comply with the moratorium and to discuss this with the local chief executives on the affected towns,” Montejo added.
Montejo said DENR is willing to set aside a portion of the plantations where these individuals could plant or grow and eventually used for firewood and charcoal. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)