EO 23 stops legitimate logging, favors instead illegal logging

President Aquino warned illegal loggers and their cohorts in government against defying Executive Order 23, which imposes a nationwide moratorium on logging in natural and residual forests. Speaking at the rites marking the 25th anniversary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the President was quoted as saying he felt directly being challenged by illegal loggers and he was calling their dare.

As I was not present at the rites and merely relying on the news reports, I could not see for myself how serious the President was about his warning. If he read a prepared speech, I wish he had delivered his warning in a more combative manner. Anyway, from his speech, what came out very clear and important to me was the need for him to revisit EO 23.

Unwittingly, the President admitted that EO 23 has not stopped illegal logging despite the existence of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force which consists at every level—from the national down to the regional and provincial levels—representatives from the DENR as chair; and from the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police as members.

However, despite the deputation of the personnel from the AFP, PNP, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority, illegal logging openly thrives all throughout the length and breadth of the entire Philippines.

Illegal logging thrives and has intensified because EO 23 has stopped legitimate logging by holders of long-term licenses, contracts and agreements.

EO 23 has stopped legitimate logging operations since Feb. 1, 2011, and barred legitimate logging companies from bringing down from the forests their logging, road-building and transportation equipment. Also, the permits of their wood-processing mills have not been renewed, and so they had to lay off their workers.

The forests, the greenest of forests remaining in the country, sustainably managed for over 50 years by these companies (which now are without their workers), are in imminent danger of being destroyed by illegal loggers.

Illegal loggers do not care about government licenses, which only restrict them from operating anywhere they like to. They do not care about the required logging plan or about scientific logging practice. They do not care about sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate change and community welfare. They do not care about paying any tax.

The President should realize that the best way to conserve our remaining natural forests is to place them under the stewardship of legitimate, responsible and accountable stakeholders, be they a family, community or corporate entity. In line with the President’s inclusive growth policy, EO 23 should be lifted; otherwise, we will lose forever our forests to illegal logging.

—LEONARDO D. ANGELES,

registered forester,

lda_pwpa@yahoo.com