The Environment Report

CEBU CITY, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) on Monday seized misdeclared lumber worth P2.6 million shipped from Butuan City over the weekend.

“There was no document when the cargo was unloaded. The transport of forest products should be accompanied by documents,” DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said.

Cebu staff received an alert from the DENR central office and were already waiting for the cargo when the Sulpicio Lines Inc. vessel docked on Saturday morning.

The cargo had 6,907 pieces of lumber totaling 82,546 board feet declared as bagras lumber, but DENR-7 staff discovered the lumber to be a mix of bagras and lauan pieces, valued at P2.6 million.

Shipping bagras lumber is not illegal.

“But there is no large-scale area with harvestable lauan. These trees grow especially in Mindanao and are not allowed to be cut down. They are preserved to maintain the ecology in the area,” DENR-7 forest management Director Isabelo Montejo said.

The mixed shipment showed “there is already an intent of smuggling,” Montejo added.

An investigation team from the regional, provincial and city environment offices has asked Sulpicio Lines and the Cebu Port Authority to hold the shipment.

Sibbaluca, in a memorandum to Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, said transport documents for the shipment had discrepancies.

The papers did not mention lauan lumber and underreported the volume as 4,350 pieces totaling 54,122.45 board feet.

The tree-cutting activity was issued a Certificate of Clearance on February 5, 2009 by an environment officer in Butuan City. Central Lumber in Mandaue City was listed as one of the consignees of the shipment.

However, Central Lumber logistics supervisor Nancy Maturan told Cebu Daily News the company was not expecting a shipment from Butuan City, only from Zamboanga, nor were they told by the DENR about the apprehended lumber. /Editorial Assistant Ma. Bernadette A. Parco