05/08/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is poised to file charges against the state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) for the indiscriminate cutting of mangrove trees over a stretch of land in Puerto Princesa recently.
Secretary Lito Atienza yesterday said local DENR officials are now gathering documents in preparation for the filing of charges against Napocor or its contractors for having cut a total of 196 bakawan trees with a diameter of from 10 to 38 cm. within its transmission right-of-way in Barangay Lucbuan, Puerto Princesa in violation of its special land use permit.
“Mangrove trees should be continuously grown, particularly now that we face the ill-effects of global warming. The recent tragedy in Myanmar where tens of thousands of persons were killed by a super typhoon gives us more reason to take care of this resource. If we have enough mangrove trees that will protect us from the fury of super typhoons, we will avoid a similar fate. That is why it is important that big establishments, including Napocor, be made to understand the consequence if mangrove trees are cut indiscriminately,” Atienza said.
Napocor has a special land use permit for a right-of-way (transmission line steel tower) with a tree cutting permit No. 01-2008 signed by Atienza which expires in June 2011.
“While we recognize the need for power generation to boost development, we are more than disheartened and cannot tolerate the violation made by Napocor in the permit granted to them by the Department,” Atienza said.
The permit area is located within the forestland of barangays Irawan to Langogan, Puerto Princesa City to Barangay Tinitian, Roxas in Palawan over a stretch of 62.69 kilometers.
The permit, however, does not allow the cutting of mangrove trees underneath the transmission line right of way. It only allows for periodic mangrove tree pruning.
The community environment and natural resources office (CENRO) composite team, under the Kilos Agad Center in Barangay Sta. Monica, spotted a clear cutting of bakawan with an approximate area of 1.20 hectares within the affected transmission line right of way.
The 196 cut bakawan trees were further cut into smaller sizes resulting in a total of 1,102 pieces of assorted dimensions to facilitate its hauling to the designated Napocor temporary depository area Barangay Lucbuan, Puerto Princesa.
The CENRO composite team seized the 1,102 pieces of bakawan timber, including a unit of power chainsaw registered under the PCSD with serial number 124790573 used in cutting the trees.
The CENRO has instantly stopped/suspended the cutting operation of Napocor in the Lucbuan mangrove area section. He also required the forest officer assigned to explain in writing his failure to supervise the illegal cutting operation.
A criminal charge is now being prepared to be filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 as further amended by Executive Order 277.
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