Mike U. Crismundo
NASIPIT INTERNATIONAL PORT, Agusan del Norte — Officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assigned at the Nasipit International Port in Agusan del Norte reactivated yesterday a joint team tasked to check cargoes of container vans that are being shipped out aboard cargo and passenger sea vessels in an effort to stop the illegal transport of forest products.
The move came out during the first meeting of the Port Management and Security Advisory Council attended by top PPA and DENR officials.
Emphasis was made on closed and sealed container vans that carry products on highways to the Nasipit International Port.
PPA officials also offered a space for Port Integrated Clearing Office where all law-enforcement agencies may do their work of checking transport documents before loading the products in vessels.
The meeting was presided over by the Nasipit Port Manager Liberto C. dela Rosa and Port Police Manager Rolly B. Dilao. It was also attended by DENR Director Edilberto Buiser and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Achilles Ebron, and DENR Nasipit Monitoring Station personnel under Forester Roger Bucong.
The DENR-Caraga Region has adopted full transparency as a matter of policy in the transport of forest and mineral products to prevent public suspicion that the DENR tolerates illegal logging or mining activities.
As agreed upon, the final sealing of container vans willl be done at the Port Area of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, and the representatives of the various sectors from academe, religious, PNP, LGU and the DENR should be present.
Experience showed that most of the containerized vans that hurdle the DENR checkpoints on the highways had been found to be carrying illegal forest products when they reached their final destination.
Moreover, the absence of qualified personnel who would inspect the cargoes of the vans before they are sealed at the port has aggravated the illegal movements of undocumented forest products in the region over the years.
Agusan del Norte Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rosendo A. Asuto has instructed CENR Officer Ebron to coordinate with the port officials and come up with improved procedures to ensure that the movements of forest products going in and out of Agusan del Norte are properly documented.
"We are strengthening our guard and we are determined to clear this gateway port of Northeastern Mindanao from illegal activities," said CENR Officer Ebron.
DENR personnel in this international port are conducting round-the-clock watch, checking and verification of all forest products coming in, it was learned.
|
