INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday ordered local government units and the PNP to implement a crackdown against illegal logging and illegal quarrying and intensify tree-planting activities.
He said the PNP said should put up checkpoints and arrest illegal loggers.
Año issued the order following massive flooding in many parts of Luzon due to weather disturbances “Ulysses,” “Rolly,” and “Quinta.” Officials have blamed illegal logging and quarrying for the flooding.
Año said the flooding in the Cagayan Valley and Bicol regions, Marikina City, Rizal province, and other areas should serve as a wake-up call for everyone to protect the forest, preserve biodiversity, and allow the forest to regenerate.
He urged LGUs to re-activate their local anti-illegal logging task forces and “be decisive in implementing the anti-illegal logging campaign and implementation of environmental laws and programs within their localities.”
Año confirmed reports that illegal logging thrives because some mayors are involved, but stressed not all mayors are involved. He also surmised that some mayors may be aware of the illegal logging in their areas but are doing nothing.
“Merong hindi naman siya kasabwat pero alam niya. Siguro alam mo na baka nagbibigay din ng mga pondo sa kampanya o sumusuporta sa kandidatura, nagkaroon ng parang indecent proposal. (There are some who may not be directly involved but are aware. Maybe because they [loggers] are contributing to their [mayors’] campaign or supporting their candidacy, there was some sort of indecent proposal),” he said.
Senators welcomed the proposal of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to increase by P5 billion next year’s calamity funds to help the areas hit by the recent typhoons.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate can source the funds from agencies or departments whose spending have been flagged by the Commission on Audit. He declined to identify the agencies.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the P20-billion calamity fund allotted next year is not enough to help the badly-hit areas.
“The proposed budget for the calamity fund for 2021 is P20 billion from P16 billion this year. If you look at the damage caused by the last three typhoons: Ulysses (P13 billion), Rolly (P18 billion) and Quinta (P4.2 billion). From these three typhoons alone, you are talking about P34 billion in damage and next year you only have P20 billion in calamity funds. It is totally inadequate,” Drilon said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said pushed for a P20-billion rehabilitation fund to be given to LGUs badly hit by the typhoons.
Lacson said the additional P20-billion fund can be taken from the P68-billion appropriation of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction of multi-purpose buildings. — With Raymond Africa
