by Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet,Wednesday March 23 – Furniture shop owners in this capital town are forewarned to secure wood supplies from legal sources issued with necessary permits.


Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Guillermo Fianza cautioned furniture shops to obtain wood materials from legal sources to avoid being caught and penalized.


Mayor Gregorio Abalos Jr. said his attention was called when furniture shop owners flocked his office after the conduct of raid operations on their shops a few weeks ago. Allegedly, the confiscated items were brought to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, he added.


While the local government unit is aware of the job of enforcers and implementers, Abalos contended there should be consistency in the enforcement of laws.


According to shopowners, no raid was conducted over the past years that is why they were surprised when one took place this year.


Abalos suggested the Provincial Peace and Order Council to craft a standing policy they could adapt and incorporate as one of the conditions in issuing business permits. He said the policy should be clear to furniture shop owners. It should include the agency that will oversee the proper enforcement of the policy, he added.
Fianza said the operations were initiated by the National Bureau of Investigation in coordination with the CENRO.


He made it clear that they are not hindering furniture shops to operate but for them to secure permits from legal sources covered with necessary permits. But he stressed that only a few sources are given permit for pinewood.

It can be recalled that President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 23 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests and creating the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.


Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso called on the PENRO to submit their report on the issue and verify the source of pinewood allegedly being used by funeral parlor operating in the area. *(PIA CAR)