TACLOBAN CITY, May 23 (PNA) -– Bothered that it may
be used for illegal logging activities, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) is seeking for the immediate recovery of chainsaws
distributed by the Philippine Coconut Authority for debris clearing after the
2013 super typhoon.
DENR Eastern Visayas Regional Executive Director
Leonardo Sibbaluca said that since the removal of coconut debris is now done,
there’s a huge possibility that some people will use these chainsaws to cut
trees.
“Are they going to use these chainsaw to pull out
weeds? Of course not! This will surely be used for illegal logging,” Sibbaluca
said.
The official revealed that some foresters have
already recovered chainsaws acquired by some individuals for post-Yolanda
clearing operations.
PCA Regional Manager Joel Pilapil said they are now
on the process of recovering chainsaws borrowed by some groups and local
government units since late 2013.
“Now that debris clearing is over, most individual
operators have already returned the chainsaws. However, most units are still
under the possession of local government units,” Pilapil said.
PCA records show that of the 2,625 chainsaws
distributed after super typhoon Yolanda, 289 units are scheduled for return to
the central government within the first half of 2016. Of the number, 151 are in
Eastern Samar, 110 in northern Leyte, and 28 units in western Leyte.
The government has embarked on massive chainsaw
distribution to remove fallen coconut trees in support to recovery activities
for coconut farmers. The 2013 super typhoon has destroyed about 13 million
trees in Eastern Visayas region.
Clearing was one of the priorities after the
disaster considering that rotten coconut trees serves as breeding ground of
rhinoceros beetle that is feed on the palm shoot.
The pest has been present in the region’s coconut
farms even before super typhoon Yolanda struck, but its population has been
manageable, according to PCA.
FFC/SQM
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