Transporting charcoal out of Oriental Mindoro now banned

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines – Alarmed over the increasing cutting and burning of logs in Oriental Mindoro, especially in the central part of the island, the provincial government has banned the transport of charcoal to curb deforestation in highland areas.

Vice Gov. Humerlito Dolor, the acting governor, has ordered all concerned agencies here, particularly the provincial environment and natural resources office, to strictly implement Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No. 015-2011 making the transport of charcoal outside of the province illegal, with violators facing a jail term and fines.

Based on estimates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here, an average of 100,000 sacks of charcoal are being shipped out by Oriental Mindoro traders to the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Metro Manila. 

Arthur Serna, provincial environment and natural resources officer, has expressed concern about the effects of charcoal production on the environment.

“Charcoal production causes a greenhouse effect,” Serna said, explaining that high concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere block heat from leaving the earth, causing global warming and the so-called greenhouse effect. 

Some sectors have blamed Mangyans for the unabated charcoal production, but Serna said even lowlanders were guilty as well.  

Citing his recent study, Serna said at least five percent of charcoal produced in the province comes from what he described as “good trees.”

The ordinance, authored by Dolor himself and provincial board member Romeo Infantado, was passed on third and final reading last May 5.

It blamed the continued felling of trees to produce charcoal for the deforestation that caused massive flooding in the province recently.

First-time violators face a fine of up to P1,500 or imprisonment of up to three days or both. For second-time offenders, a fine of P3,500 and imprisonment of up to six days will be slapped.  

Offenders for the third time or more have to pay a P5,000 fine and be locked up for up to 10 days. Authorities will seize the vehicles used to transport charcoal.