DENR donates confiscated lumber for Barotac Nuevo social hall

BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 6, through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Barotac Nuevo, has donated 48 pieces of confiscated lumber to the municipal government.

The lumber has a total volume of 751.5 board feet, or approximately 1.77 cubic meters.

Mayor Bryant Paul Q. Biron and Glenn S. Del Norte, an engineer and Barotac Nuevo’s community environment and natural resources officer, formalized the donation by signing a deed of donation on Sept. 1, 2026, at the mayor’s office.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to transforming illegal logging seizures into public assets that directly serve the community,” Del Norte said.

“By donating these materials to the LGU, we ensure that the confiscated natural resources are put to good, transparent, and functional use,” he added.

Under the deed, the municipal government will use the lumber to make office furniture and fixtures for the Barotac Nuevo municipal social hall.

DENR said the donation would put confiscated materials to public use while complying with its regulations on the disposal of apprehended, confiscated or forfeited forest products.

Memorandum Order No. 162, issued in 1993, allows the donation of eligible confiscated logs, lumber and other forest products to barangays, municipal and provincial governments, and other government agencies that need the materials to improve public services.

When requests for the same materials compete, the order gives priority to disaster victims in need, followed by school building programs, health centers and other specified public projects. (DENR-6)