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13 sawmills closed for operations in Region 12
KORONADAL CITY/01 August 2012—About thirteen illegally operating sawmills in Central Mindanao have been shut down by the DENR Regional Office 12.
Regional Executive Director Adeluisa Siapno said the sawmill operators have been issued warnings by DENR and the log ban imposed by the national government. “We are now conducting a comprehensive evaluation on the operations of all holders of mini-sawmill permits to determine whether they strictly complied with all the existing DENR laws, rules and regulations pertaining to sawmill operations.”
Nine of the 13 sawmills are in South Cotabato, three in Cotabato City, and one in Sarangani.
Those closed in SoCot are Patwoods Processing, Inc in Surallah, Emerald Industries in Koronadal City, and mini-sawmills based in Tupi municipality operated by Marlon Cunanan, Lilit Delizo, Manolito Landicho, Nieves Landicho, Robi Magalaman, and Donato Rivera.
Padlocked in Cotabato City are Arcela Mini-Sawmill and Lumberyard, Amacon Mini-Sawmill and Lumberyard, and Suralda Mini Sawmill. Closed for operations in Maitum, Sarangani is Phela Resources Corp.
Forrester Larry Curias however said that the erring sawmills may resume business upon compliance with legal procedures to include registration with DENR. “They have to prove that they have enough legal surces of logs to supply their operations for at least five years.” (TPSA)
“We shall continue planting trees, not cutting trees,” Siapno said. DENR’s intensified campaign for the heightened tree planting activities is in conformity with the National Greening Program of President Benigno Aquino III. (TPSA)
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