APRIL 18, 2012 DATE

NR # 2713
REF. NO.

Solons hit DENR exec on illegal logging issue

An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) drew the ire of lawmakers when he denied that illegal logging did not cause the massive flooding in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City during typhoon Sendong. The members of the House Committee on Natural Resources who were present during its recent hearing dismissed the explanation of DENR Assistant Secretary Daniel Nicer that illegal logging was not the main cause of massive flooding during the onslaught of typhoon Sendong in the affected areas. Appearing before the House panel, Nicer said the DENR investigating team sent to the disaster area is still in the process of completing its data but went on to report its initial findings during the inquiry. Nicer told the lawmakers that illegal logging is not the main reason for the flooding and destruction in the area as he showed a picture of a house still standing in the aftermath of the typhoon, adding that, the cut logs did not cause damage but were simply washed ashore. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), one of authors who sought an inquiry into the flooding in his district, chided Nicer for his unacceptable explanation during the hearing, which was attended by other lawmakers whose districts were also damaged during the typhoon last December 2011. Rodriguez said the DENR officials cannot deny the fact that illegal logging is the main cause of the flooding which killed 957 people and displaced thousands of residents Rodriguez said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a big number of people are still missing. Rep. Vicente Belmonte, Jr. (Lone District, Iligan City) said after the inspection of the affected areas in his district, he personally saw a lot of cut logs strewn around the area. Some of the logs rammed into houses as they were washed from higher grounds, he said. Belmonte reminded the DENR that hundreds of lives were lost and countless families were left homeless not mainly due to the typhoon but because of the relentless destruction of the environment caused by illegal logging and mining. Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano (2nd District, Misamis Oriental) said he doesnt understand why to this day the DENR fact-finding team is still in the process of determining the cause of the flooding. We all know that the real cause of flooding is the continuing deforestation in the highlands. What the DENR should have proposed was the immediate ban on the cutting of trees in many parts of Mindanao if we want to avert a similar situation in the future, Emano said. Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, AKO BICOL), vice-chairman of the House panel, urged the DENR to submit its final report to the committee on the substantial course of action taken by the agency, most especially against illegal logging and illegal mining activities in the affected areas. The other lawmakers who were present during the hearing were Reps. Emmi De Jesus (Party-list, Gabriela) and Benjo Benaldo (1st District, Cagayan De Oro City). (30) sb