DENR cancels chainsaw permits in Antique

SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Antique provincial office has cancelled all chainsaw permits in the province effective Oct 19, 2020 to avert further damage in Antique’s protected forest due to rampant cutting of trees.

DENR-PENRO Antique said substantial number of trees were cut down using a chainsaw at Brgy. Inyawan, Libertad, Antique, a protected area covered by the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park.

This was documented last July 10, 2020 when DENR conducted patrol and monitoring activity. The area was converted into kaingin and later planted with agricultural crops such as ginger and other root crops.

The monitoring report showed that the affected area of kaingin/ slash and burn is about  0.25 hectare that falls within the Strict Protection Zone of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP)

DENR PENR Officer Andres T. Untal said that the unscrupulous individuals have taken advantage of the quarantine restrictions in the past months to extract and exploit the natural resources of the province.

This prompted Untal to issue a Memorandum that cancelled all the chainsaw permits while investigation of the incident was ongoing.

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (CENRO) in Culasi and Belison are also directed to submit the list of all chainsaw permit holders in their area of jurisdiction.

DENR also reminded the public that  Republic Act 9175 or The Chainsaw Act prohibits the unlawful use of the chainsaw and may put one in jail from six years to eighth years or a fine of not less than P 30,000 but not more than P50,000 if found guilty for its unlawful use.

The renewal and re-acquisition of the chainsaw permit will be recommended by the CENRO after they have submitted details of the permittee qualifications and this will be subjected for review and approval of the PENR Officer.

Information Officer Mavi Mental of DENR Antique emphasized that the illegal cutting of trees and deliberate kaingin making has a direct impact on the state of environment of the province.

It can be noted that Deputy Speaker and Antique’s Lone District Representative Loren Legarda is working on House Bill 632 to declare northern Antique as protected seascape and landscape areas located in the municipalities of Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi and Tibiao and also be declared as an ecotourism zone to encourage the responsible and sustainable use as well as for the preservation and conservation of the natural resources

Untal appealed to all Antiqueños to help in the campaign to stop the illegal chainsaw operation.

He also urged everyone to participate in the ridge to reef approach for the conservation and protection of the environment. (PIA/DENR)