CEBU CITY, Cebu — An estimated P267,000 worth of coconut lumber with invalid and expired documents were seized by the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu in Plaza Independencia in this city.

Two 10-wheeler trucks loaded with assorted sizes of coconut lumber were intercepted early morning earlier in the week after the trucks on which they were loaded drove past the gate of Pier 1.

The confiscated cargo comprised of a total 16,700 board feet of coconut lumber with an estimated market value of Php 267,200.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)- Cebu chief Commander Rolando Punzalan said the fully-loaded trucks arrived at the port on board MV Lite Ferry 15.

Initially, Ali Sitoy, shipping agent of the cargo bearing the hot coconut lumber showed documents including permit to transport and permit to cut coconut trees which were issued in Dipolog City but further scrutiny showed that the documents, registered under the name of Michael Gutierrez, of Lapu-Lapu City, have expired.

The cargo was supposed to have been taken to Central Lumber Hardware in Highway, Mambaling, Cebu City.

Ruben Miraña, Aurito Orozco and Valeriano Mayormita Jr. of the Philippine Coconut Authority-7 Task Force arrived in the area and confirmed that the documents have expired.

Republic Act No. 8048, otherwise known as the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995, provides that “considering the importance of the coconut industry in nation building, being one of the principal industries and one of the largest income earners of the country, it becomes mandatory for the Government to step-in and regulate the unabated and indiscriminate cutting of coconut trees.”

Provincial coconut development