NORTH COTABATO - Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Emmanuel Piñol ordered an investigation into illegal mining and illegal logging operations inside the Mount Apo Protected Area in North Cotabato’s Magpet town.
Piñol said he received an
initial report from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) saying it uncovered illegal mining and illegal cutting of
hardwood trees in Mount Apo.
“I
received a report that a team from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources uncovered illegal mining operations and cutting of hardwood inside
the Mount Apo Protected Area in Barangay Don Panaca, Magpet, North Cotabato,”
he said.
“The initial report also
said that the poachers have started planting bananas in the areas cleared of
natural growing trees. I have directed officials of the Mindanao Development Authority
to coordinate with the DENR's Mines and Geosciences Bureau to get to the bottom
of this,” Piñol
added, saying, he will submit an official report to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Last month, the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered all local governments across the country to crackdown on illegal mining and
illegal logging operations following the widespread flooding caused by
typhoons.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said
local governments and the police must prioritize the protection of the
environment. “We must act quickly and in a whole-of-society fashion to protect
our remaining forests across the country otherwise we are creating and causing
more disasters for our country.”
“The flooding brought by
Typhoon Ulysses is a harsh reminder that we are failing at doing our level best
to protect the environment, especially our remaining forest cover. Kayat
inaatasan ko ang lahat ng PNP units at LGUs na pigilan ang illegal logging at
illegal quarrying sa kanilang mga nasasakupan,” he said. (Rhod Beñez)
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