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DENR donates seized lumbers to rebuild quake-hit DavSur areas

By Che Palicte

December 22, 2019, 11:00 am

<p>Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu </p>

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu 

DAVAO CITY -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu issued a directive to its Mindanao offices to release confiscated lumber and wood products to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to help earthquake victims rebuild their homes.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, MinDA chair Emmanuel Piñol said the need for lumber and wood products was raised by Mayor Pedro Caminero Jr. of Padada, Davao del Sur during an assessment visit by MinDA officials on Saturday.

He said the mayor opened up about the building of a temporary market place beside the ruins of the old market.

With the urgency to rebuild Padada, Piñol immediately called up Cimatu who quickly responded and vowed to provide the lumber needed to help rebuild the municipality.

"Unlike in the days of old when requests like this would have been done through formal communications, yesterday's lightning-quick response by Secretary Cimatu to an urgent need is reflective of the new culture of governance introduced by President Duterte," he said.

Piñol said the MinDA team will immediately assess the wood and lumber requirements on other earthquake-affected areas.

The rebuilding program, he said, will also be supported by the Philippine Business Council in Indonesia (PBCI) which generated PHP1.2 million.

The PBCI’s financial support was turned over to MinDA's partner-non government organization -- Don Bosco Foundation.

"The money, raised through the help of Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee and PBCI official Mark Castro will be used to buy carpentry tools like saw and hammer along with nails which will be distributed to families whose houses were destroyed by the earthquake," Piñol said. (PNA)

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