The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered the intensified monitoring of tree-cutting activities near Mt. Apo Natural Park in Magpet, Cotabato where authorities recently discovered an illegal small-scale mining operation.
According to Felix Alicer, DENR regional executive director for Soccsksargen, the small-scale mining in Barangay Don Panaca operation which has since been ordered closed by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu covers a five-hectare area that has been cleared of trees.
Alicer said the area is suspected to be converted into a banana plantation.
“What we are seeing here is that the threat to denudation is not so much on timber poaching but land conversion. A banana plantation has higher economic benefits,” he said.
Alicer also said that barangay officials in the area are not empowered to apprehend suspects and they are only capable of helping in the monitoring of the site which prevented the suspected planned land conversion. – Jed Macapagal
