DENR retrieves trees cut by mine firm
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is retrieving and conducting an inventory of trees indiscriminately cut by Ipilan Nickel Corp. (INC) in Palawan.
Natividad Bernardino, DENR-Mimaropa director, said they are monitoring the entry and exit points in a 2,835-hectare area in Brooke’s Point.
Bernardino said 34 DENR and provincial government personnel were deployed to the area.
She said her office is coordinating with Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez and Brooke’s Point Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano to transfer the cut trees to a secure location.
Bernardino said they expect to finish the retrieval operations by July.
The INC claimed the cutting of around 7,000 trees was covered by its mineral production sharing agreement with the DENR.
However, the DENR said INC could no longer cut trees after former DENR secretary Gina Lopez cancelled the environment compliance certificate of the company last Dec. 14.
Bernardino said INC could be charged with qualified theft under Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code.
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