TACLOBAN CITY – Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca announced in a news conference on Saturday that the 95,000 hectares granted by the DENR central office to the controversial San Jose Timber Logging Corporation (SJTC) for its logging operations will no longer materialize.
Sibbaluca clarified to the public and other environmentalist groups that this area was earlier declared by no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Samar Island Natural Park.
It was emphasized by Sibbaluca that it is already impossible in case the SJTC to resume its logging operations in Samar for the 95,000 hectares granted for the said purpose, because 50 percent of the said area has been identified as virgin forest and could no longer be permitted for any logging operation.
“I would like to make it clear doon sa naguguluhan na itong 95,000 hectares ay hindi puwedeng pasukin sa kahit anong logging operations, dahil ito ay isa sa natitirang virgin forest ng Region 8...mahirap na,” Sibbaluca added.
Sibbaluca and DENR Secretary Mike Defensor earlier gave their assurance to the four Catholic bishops in the region, that SJTC’s plan to resume its logging operations in Samar after a moratorium order was lifted, will not be permitted with many requirements needed aside from the strong opposition and vigilance of the people in terms of forest protection.
In fact, the DENR regional chief also said that because of this vigilance, the people really gets benefited out of this attention.
“To my assessment, forest protection in this region is not really a problem because of the support and cooperation in the anti-illegal logging campaign of the people and the assurance of the ecological benefit
kung saan patuloy tayo na nakakakuha ng potable drinking water resources compared to other regions,..
kaya maingat ang mga tao dito,” Sibbaluca said.
