Digos City – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today delivered four truckloads of seized illegal lumber to help local government units rebuild structures and buildings destroyed by the series of earthquakes in Mindanao.
The four trucloads of “hot” lumber were turned over to Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas in the presence of mayors and local government officials
The deliveries came a month after Padada Mayor Pedro Caminero Jr asked the Mindanao Authority for help in rebuilding the town’s public market stalls and other structures.
He said the town needed lumber to build new market stalls, barangay day care and health centers.
Immediately after he made the request, I called up DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu and asked if the agency could turn over to earthquake affected LGUs the illegal cut lumber it seized from illegal loggers.
These seized wood products in the past were just left to rot in the yards of DENR Regional offices.
Sec. Cimatu immediately approved the verbal request which was later officially conveyed through a formal letter request.
Undersecretary Jim Sampulna represented Sec. Cimatu during the turn over creemonies today at the Provincial Capitol of Davao del Sur.
In a message I delivered, I emphasized that the extraordinary quickness of action by DENR reflected the style of governance of the Duterte Administration which is innovative and resourceful.
I also said that the immediate response was made possible because of the direct engagement of President Rody Duterte with people in distress through the Mindanao Development Authority.
Next week, MinDA will also turn-over carpentry and power tools to be used in the repair and reconstruction.
(Photos by Edwin Espejo and MinDA Media team.)
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