COTABATO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 12 (DENR-12) has stepped up its campaign against illegal logging by capacitating 65 police officers to act as “DENR partners” in south-central Mindanao, a DENR official said Wednesday.
In a statement, DENR-12 Regional Director Nilo Tamoria said the police have undergone a one-day paralegal orientation on illegal logging, specifically on forestry and other related environmental laws.
The police unit will be deployed in 19 towns in North Cotabato and seven in Sarangani to help the DENR prevent the cutting of trees and help preserve the depleting forest covers.
Region 12, otherwise known as the Soccsksargen area, covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani; and the cities of Cotabato and General Santos.
Tamoria clarified that the police will serve as DENR partners and not as forest rangers.
“The DENR is one of the agencies implementing several laws, however, it has no enforcement bureau on the national level, thus we are strengthening our partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP) through the creation of a task force,” Tamoria said.
“There is a need for police officers to be oriented on the technical aspects of the forestry laws to be effective in the enforcement activities,” he added.
Tamoria said the partnership with the local police is in line with the priority programs of President Rodrigo Duterte, through DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, in intensifying forest protection and anti-illegal logging activities.
“I hope through the PNP we can triumph our campaign against illegal logging not only for the environment but for the greater citizenry and for the future generations,” Tamoria said.
Datu Tungko Saikol, assistant regional director for management services, lauded the police for its readiness to assist DENR.
“Both PNP and DENR are tasked to serve the interest and welfare of the public, and we are always prepared for that,” he said.
The DENR-12’s move to partner with the PNP was based on Executive Order No. 23 that declared a “Moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of Timber in the Natural and Residual Forests and Creating Anti-Illegal Logging Task Forces in North Cotabato and Sarangani.”
“We initiated this paralegal orientation because we have seen the need of keeping the police officers abreast with the development on enforcing forestry laws. You can be effective as partners when you are equipped with the laws,” DENR-12 Forester Datu Mabaning said. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
