ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY Roy A. Cimatu has relieved two officials in connection with illegal logging. While the two officials were not named, Mr. Cimatu said in a statement he will not hesitate to bring charges against any employee or official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who will abet such illegal activities, especially in the light of Typhoon Vinta unleashing flash floods in Zamboanga del Norte which led to 59 deaths last December. Mr. Cimatu conducted an aerial inspection in Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday to observe the damage blamed on logging operations that had allegedly violated the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA). According to this agreement between the DENR and private firms, companies can harvest lumber except from residual trees in exchange for the establishment and development of industrial tree plantations. Following this, Region 9 officers had undergone a ‘reorganization” of officials. Mr. Cimatu has also ordered a review of 104 IFMAs to check on violators and suspended the operations of Dacon Group of Companies’ South Davao Development Co., Inc. and Sirawai Plywood & Lumber Corp in Sibuco. DENR data showed that there are 51 IFMAs in Mindanao, 10 of which are in Region 9. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
