BENRO: forests in Bulacan running out; Capitol promotes Bamboo technology as remedy
by: Lea Marie Magtira
Timber poaching is one of the main reasons our forest is deteriorating, according to Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO).
In spite of deterioration of our forests there are groups that were trying to revive and protect our resources, three of these groups are:
These groups are considered as Provincial MultiSectoral Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, their main goal is to catch the illegal loggers that are destroying our forests here in Bulacan. Their group was created during November last year their members were chosen by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, and they have a fund of around 800,000 per year.
They revealed that Norzagaray is one of the places in Bulacan that wherein, Timber poaching is notorious. This task force confiscated 502 pieces of “tablon” from 4 different operations. It is really alarming that even they had accumulated a great number of tablon still there were many tablons were not confiscated. This tablon were stored from 10 different households, there are CENSUS stickers in the houses so they hope to get the names of the owner and eventually lead them to who is really the accountable for this confiscated tablon.
These loggers violated the PD 705 Section 8, and their punishment will be 12-18 years imprisonment if they will be proven guilty. It’s quite disappointing that the punishment for these loggers are not that grave penalties.
This task force told us, that they are trying to submit the FRB or the Forest Resources Bill in the Congress it would be a great help to the forests they are trying to protect. They had their Intel that informed them to confiscate this tablon but unfortunately they didn’t catch the illegal loggers and they didn’t obtain the chainsaws that were used to cut those tablon.
What will happen to these tablon now they were confiscated? These tablon will be turned into chairs, and they will be donated to DEPED so public schools will benefit from these tablon.
Bro. Martin Francisco said “Kulang na kulang ang mga gubat natin maging ang mga primary forest natin ay kulang na rin pag sinabi kasing primary eto yung mga gubat na hindi pa nagagalaw. Sa totoo lang kasi kulang talaga ang budget natin sa forest protection dito sa Bulacan, sa DENR oo may pondo sila eh kasi national naman ‘yun.” He cited.
With that Mr. Quirmit opened up that Kapitolyo is promoting now the “Bamboo Technology” as the remedy to the problem of scarcity in the supply of wood from trees.
Mr. Francisco said “Kung di nyo natatanong may mga tao na tayong ipinadala sa China para magkaroon tayo ng machinery para itong mga bamboo na ito ay maprocess na kasing ganda rin ng mga kahoy o tabla na galing sa puno. Ang ikinaganda pa nito, mabilis tumubo ang mga bamboo kasi ito ay klase ng damo. Grass kasi sya kaya mabilis talaga syang tumubo at matibay rin naman. Ang kailangan na lang talaga natin ay ang machinery na magproprocess sa mga bamboo na ito.” He stated.
As Mr. Francisco brought up the Bamboo technology we can’t help but wished that soon this technology will help us to resolve the problems we are facing right now. This technology will be a remedy to help the forests in Bulacan so trees will have time to grow and increase in number.
With this technology, we can revive slowly but surely our forests that were completely destroyed by those illegal loggers.
Mr. Mendel Garcia of AWAT said “Walang katapusan na pautakan ang kailangan naming gawin, kasi yung mga loggers na yan mag-iisip yan ng strategy kung paano ba kami tatakasan pero syempre kami naman iisip kami ng mga paraan para mahuli na naming yung mga loggers. May mga cases na rin kasi date na na-encounter namin, pero eto kasing recent na operation naming malaki yung nakuha naming number ng mga tablon pero may mga nawawala pa rin dun sa mga nakuha namin. Ang kailangan talaga ay regulation para matigil ang mga illegal loggers, yang sinasabi na livelihood, no it will not stop them binibigyan pa sila ng raket kasi yung asawa at mga anak sila makikinabang sila sa livelihood project na ibibigay ng gobyerno pero yung mga lalaki mangangahoy pa rin sila, hindi sila basta hihinto yun na kasi yung nakasanayan nila. He said.
It is really frustrating that yes there are loggers that were imprisoned but the truth is, there are more loggers out there that would still continue to cut down trees as the source of living. Maybe there is even more loggers that are free, cutting down trees to gain profit.
We might not realize this, but this cutting down of trees has serious implication in our surroundings. These trees serve as an air shed to us; if these trees would be gone there will be floods everywhere during the rainy season because there would be no more trees to hold the water in their roots if there will be excessive rain falls. There would be also shortage of potable water if we can’t stop this illegal logging, in the long run we will all suffer if we can’t stop it.
If you really think the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money" -- Guy McPherson
The bottom-line is, we should save our environment while we can, before it’s not too late. We can still save our environment by our own little ways.
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Timber poaching is one of the main reasons our forest is deteriorating, according to Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO).
In spite of deterioration of our forests there are groups that were trying to revive and protect our resources, three of these groups are:
- BENRO
- Angat Watershed Area Team (AWAT)
- SAGIP SIERRA MADRE
These groups are considered as Provincial MultiSectoral Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, their main goal is to catch the illegal loggers that are destroying our forests here in Bulacan. Their group was created during November last year their members were chosen by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, and they have a fund of around 800,000 per year.
They revealed that Norzagaray is one of the places in Bulacan that wherein, Timber poaching is notorious. This task force confiscated 502 pieces of “tablon” from 4 different operations. It is really alarming that even they had accumulated a great number of tablon still there were many tablons were not confiscated. This tablon were stored from 10 different households, there are CENSUS stickers in the houses so they hope to get the names of the owner and eventually lead them to who is really the accountable for this confiscated tablon.
These loggers violated the PD 705 Section 8, and their punishment will be 12-18 years imprisonment if they will be proven guilty. It’s quite disappointing that the punishment for these loggers are not that grave penalties.
This task force told us, that they are trying to submit the FRB or the Forest Resources Bill in the Congress it would be a great help to the forests they are trying to protect. They had their Intel that informed them to confiscate this tablon but unfortunately they didn’t catch the illegal loggers and they didn’t obtain the chainsaws that were used to cut those tablon.
What will happen to these tablon now they were confiscated? These tablon will be turned into chairs, and they will be donated to DEPED so public schools will benefit from these tablon.
Bro. Martin Francisco said “Kulang na kulang ang mga gubat natin maging ang mga primary forest natin ay kulang na rin pag sinabi kasing primary eto yung mga gubat na hindi pa nagagalaw. Sa totoo lang kasi kulang talaga ang budget natin sa forest protection dito sa Bulacan, sa DENR oo may pondo sila eh kasi national naman ‘yun.” He cited.
With that Mr. Quirmit opened up that Kapitolyo is promoting now the “Bamboo Technology” as the remedy to the problem of scarcity in the supply of wood from trees.
Mr. Francisco said “Kung di nyo natatanong may mga tao na tayong ipinadala sa China para magkaroon tayo ng machinery para itong mga bamboo na ito ay maprocess na kasing ganda rin ng mga kahoy o tabla na galing sa puno. Ang ikinaganda pa nito, mabilis tumubo ang mga bamboo kasi ito ay klase ng damo. Grass kasi sya kaya mabilis talaga syang tumubo at matibay rin naman. Ang kailangan na lang talaga natin ay ang machinery na magproprocess sa mga bamboo na ito.” He stated.
As Mr. Francisco brought up the Bamboo technology we can’t help but wished that soon this technology will help us to resolve the problems we are facing right now. This technology will be a remedy to help the forests in Bulacan so trees will have time to grow and increase in number.
With this technology, we can revive slowly but surely our forests that were completely destroyed by those illegal loggers.
Mr. Mendel Garcia of AWAT said “Walang katapusan na pautakan ang kailangan naming gawin, kasi yung mga loggers na yan mag-iisip yan ng strategy kung paano ba kami tatakasan pero syempre kami naman iisip kami ng mga paraan para mahuli na naming yung mga loggers. May mga cases na rin kasi date na na-encounter namin, pero eto kasing recent na operation naming malaki yung nakuha naming number ng mga tablon pero may mga nawawala pa rin dun sa mga nakuha namin. Ang kailangan talaga ay regulation para matigil ang mga illegal loggers, yang sinasabi na livelihood, no it will not stop them binibigyan pa sila ng raket kasi yung asawa at mga anak sila makikinabang sila sa livelihood project na ibibigay ng gobyerno pero yung mga lalaki mangangahoy pa rin sila, hindi sila basta hihinto yun na kasi yung nakasanayan nila. He said.
It is really frustrating that yes there are loggers that were imprisoned but the truth is, there are more loggers out there that would still continue to cut down trees as the source of living. Maybe there is even more loggers that are free, cutting down trees to gain profit.
We might not realize this, but this cutting down of trees has serious implication in our surroundings. These trees serve as an air shed to us; if these trees would be gone there will be floods everywhere during the rainy season because there would be no more trees to hold the water in their roots if there will be excessive rain falls. There would be also shortage of potable water if we can’t stop this illegal logging, in the long run we will all suffer if we can’t stop it.
If you really think the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money" -- Guy McPherson
The bottom-line is, we should save our environment while we can, before it’s not too late. We can still save our environment by our own little ways.
Back to Home
Headline/News
Opinion
Sports
Features