BY CHITO CHAVEZ
Unlawful logging and quarrying must be stopped at all cost.
This was what the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) emphasized on Monday as it ordered the local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the crackdown on illegal logging and quarrying in the aftermath of a series of typhoons that caused destruction and flooding in many parts of the country.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that all LGUs and PNP units in the country must also prioritize the protection of the environment through tree planting.
“We must act quickly and in a whole-of-society fashion to protect our remaining forests around the country, otherwise, we are creating and causing more disasters for our country,” Año said.
“The flooding brought by Typhoon Ulysses is a harsh reminder that we are failing at doing our level best to protect the environment, especially our remaining forest cover. Kayat inaatasan ko ang lahat ng PNP units at LGUs na pigilan ang illegal logging at illegal quarrying sa kanilang mga nasasakupan,” he added. (Chito Chavez)
