BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan: Due to the alarming incidence of apprehension of illegally cut logs in this town where the famous Callao cave is located, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has called the attention of local officials for the protection of the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS).
Gwendolyn Bambalan, DENR – Region 2 executive director, asked local officials particularly barangay (village) officials to be more vigilant in the forest protection efforts of the government particularly the PPLS which was declared as a national park.
Last week, an en banc meeting which was attended by village chiefs of this municipality was led by the DENR regional office and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
Also the chairperson of PAMB, Bambalan explained that the PPLS was declared a national park because there are biodiversity species that are supposed to be protected and managed.
In 2003, the PPLS was established under Presidential Proclamation No. 484. It has a total area of 118,781.58 hectares with 103,801 hectares terrestrial and 14,980 hectares marine.
“We need [the] support [of] barangay captains in our campaign against illegal logging,” Bambalan said as she underlined the alarming incidence of apprehension of illegally cut logs in the municipality.
Ismael Manaligod, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) officer, said the Cagayan Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force had apprehended five conveyances and 26,123 board feet of lumber and flitches worth P1,306,174 from May 12 to August 14, 2020.
Bambalan explained that PAMB’s role in this municipality which is home to the famous Callao Cave is very strategic and that it also functions to ensure the protection of caves and cave resources in this municipality.
She said caves are considered protected areas and must be preserved and that any development project or activity to be done should be consonant to the protected area management plan and applicable environmental laws.
“We have one goal and that is the protection of the natural resources of Peñablanca. The DENR supports the initiatives of local government units and other partners but we have to abide by rules and regulations,” Bambalan said.
According to DENR-Region 2, a technical working group was tasked to discuss and review development plans and the different instrumentalities entered for the management of the Callao Caves.
Bambalan said results will be forwarded to the PAMB for deliberation in the next meeting.
Meanwhile, Bambalan expressed thanks to Gov. Manuel Mamba for the full support of the provincial government, the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of illegal logging activities in Cagayan province.