The President issued the order in Lamitan, Basilan where she cut the ceremonial ribbon for the Badjao Housing project in barangay Kulay Bato.

A visibly irked Arroyo also directed ARMM  regional police director Sr. Supt  Sukarno Ikbala to adopt appropriate measures in coordination with  the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop the rampant cutting of trees in these three provinces.

Reports indicated  that large-scale illegal logging operations continue to flourish there right under the nose of the ARMM-DENR and local officials.

It was learned that the President was even told that some local government units (LGUs) in these provinces are in cahoots with illegal loggers.

"It is very sad to know that despite the poor forest resources we have in the countryside, here in Basilan, Sulu  and in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, the cutting of trees remains unabated," the President said after directing Hussein to ask members of his  legislative assembly to take steps to immediately address this problem.

Basilan province has a total  forested area of 229,000 hectares with only about  9, 738 left untouched today, the President noted.

A similar situation reportedly exist in Tawi-Tawi.

Some government officials  even raise questions why  the ARMM-DENR could not stop the  cutting of trees while the Philippine Navy appears unaware of the shipment of logs to other cities in the country.

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) Jesus Dureza has also expressed deep concern about this problem.

Dureza said  he will personally ask Hussein to report to him from time to time  about any development regarding the order of the President.

He added that as chair of Medco  it is also  his main concer to make sure that the ecosystem of the  province is  in perfect condition.

Dureza also confirmed reports that  some  rivers in Basilan province are running dry while  other rivers are already slowly drying up.