BUTUAN CITY – The shortage of school buildings and classrooms seems to be eased after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to donate an initial P522,796 worth of seized logs and 49,477.94 board feet of lumber now deposited at various areas in the Caraga Region, environment officials said.

This new donation scheme to DepEd and other agencies needing wood materials for their projects is now being directed to all regional directors and field officials by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje.

“To cut this bidding problem which is believed to be the source of corruption, we are now donating all confiscated forest products to government agencies, especially the DepEd that needs wood materials for their infrastructure projects,” said Paje.

“We will no longer turnover to the Natural Resources Development Corp. (NRDC) for public bidding, instead we will be donating all confiscated forest products to the DepEd for the children’s desks and chairs,” stressed Paje.

It was learned that the NRDC is the marketing arm of the DENR.

DENR Region 12 Director Edilberto S. Buiser reported that the confiscated logs, lumber, flitches and poles and piles in the Caraga Region is set for donation, while other confiscated forest products are still under administrative proceedings.