DENR intensifies campaign on illegal transport of charcoal from Camarines Sur

Source: Philippine Information Agency

NAGA CITY -- Camarines Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office (Penro) has intensified its campaign against the hauling and conveyance of wood charcoal from the province.

Camarines Sur Penro chief Atty. Arnel Rodriguez said that he has already directed community ENROs in the cities of Iriga and Naga monitor and prevent the transport of charcoal out of the province without the Certificate of Verification (COVs).

He has also notified the ENROs in the municipalities of Goa and Sipocot to strictly require the drivers or conveyors of the charcoal to present a COV to transport the charcoal.

ENROs were also advised not to issue a transport permit without the clearance coming from the DENR regional office.

Transporting wood charcoal without necessary clearances is a clear violation of DENR Administrative Order 32, issued in 1997.

The indiscriminate cutting of trees in the forest is being attributed to the high charcoal demand in the region and in the neighboring provinces. This in turn, feeds the members of the community to cut the trees even in their tender years just to make a living. If the cutting of trees to make charcoal woods persists, our forests will soon lost its cover. This will make our areas prone to flooding and landslides.

Pursuant to this, a DENR officer can confiscate the tools, implements, and conveyances used in the transport of any paraphernalia that could have been used to illegally cut trees and the making of wood charcoal.

DENR, meanwhile, has scheduled visits to various establishments directly involved in the buying and selling of charcoal, including the identification of the place where the charcoal originated.

“Aside from the stern and continuous reminder that we are sending to our DENR officers, we will also be conducting visits to various sites where there are reported cases of wood charcoal making. We will also check on the vehicles being used to transport the merchandise. If a violation is evident, the jeepney or the vehicle used to conduct an illegal activity will be impounded,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez added that they are also closely coordinating with terminal operators in the province where the charcoal are allegedly being delivered. They have also strengthened coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Just recently, the group was able to confiscate more than 500 sacks of charcoal in the province on separate operations.

The towns of Tinambac, Calabanga, Pasacao, San Fernando, and Minalabac are considered wood charcoal hotspots where there are rampant production and selling of the said commodity. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)