CONFISCATED CHAINSAWS. Personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Soccsksargen and the local police seize three unregistered chainsaws being sold on Judge Alba Street in Koronadal City on Thursday (Jan. 27, 2022). The agency intensified its campaign against unregistered chainsaws following the order of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to prevent the illegal cutting of trees in forest areas. (Photo courtesy of DENR-12)
KORONADAL CITY- The anti-illegal logging campaign of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Soccsksargen (DENR-12) has resulted in the seizure of three unregistered counterfeit chainsaws here, an official said Friday.
In a statement, forester Dirie Macabaning, DENR-12 enforcement division, said their team, together with the local police, confiscated the items Thursday when the dealers failed to show any permit regarding their operation.
He said a concerned citizen reported to them the selling of the unregistered chainsaws.
“Upon verification of the report, our team spotted the chainsaws being sold together with a grass cutter along Judge Alba Street,” Macabaning said.
The confiscated items are now in the custody of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Banga municipality that borders the city in the south through its thick forest covers.
Cases are now being readied against the people behind the selling of the unregistered chainsaws.
Macabaning said securing a permit from the DENR in selling, purchasing, transfer of ownership, distribution or otherwise disposing or owning of chainsaw is mandated by Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002.
Violators of the law can face maximum imprisonment of six years or a fine of not more than PHP30,000.
Lawyer Felix Alicer, DENR-12 executive director, lauded the immediate response of their law enforcers and local police on the report of a concerned citizen regarding the selling of unregistered chainsaws.
“DENR alone cannot carry out its functions effectively without the support of the citizenry, local government units, partner agencies, and other stakeholders,” Alicer said.
He called on the public anew to report environmental concerns to the DENR office near them.
“The protection of the environment is everybody’s concern and not only by the DENR,” Alicer said.
Mama Samaon, DENR-12 assistant director for technical services, said their intensified campaign against illegal chainsaws stemmed from the marching order of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to stop the cutting of trees in the forest areas and to save the remaining natural resources.
“We have strengthened our coordination with local stakeholders to help monitor and prevent the illegal cutting of trees, especially in the protected areas,” he said. (PNA)
