Illegal mining, logging uncovered in Mt. Apo, MinDA Sec. Piñol says
Climate Change/Environment • 21:45 PM Tue Dec 8, 2020
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
DENR-North Cotabato personnel inspect the entrance of the tunnel and the mined materials in Barangay Don Panaca, Magpet, North Cotabato which is within the Mt. Apo Protected Area. (DENR photos)
“This is outrageous!”
This was the reaction of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Sec. Emmanuel Piñol after he learned that illegal mining operations and illegal cutting of hardwood trees were uncovered inside the Mt. Apo Protected Area.
In his FB post, Sec. Piñol said the mining and cutting of trees were uncovered by a team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) North Cotabato inside the Mt. Apo protected area in B Arangay Don Panaca, Magpet town.
“What makes this discovery totally outrageous was the confirmation that local officials, allegedly protected by Army soldiers, are behind the mining and clearing operations inside one (of) the last remaining forest areas of Mindanao.” Sec. Piñol said.
He said the poachers have started planting bananas in the areas cleared of natural growing trees in an attempt to covered the logged areas.
“I have directed officials of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to coordinate with the DENR's Mines and Geosciences Bureau to get to the bottom of this,” the MinDA secretary who hails in Kidapawan City and a known environmentalist.
He said he was preparing a report to be submitted to President Duterte “so that the encroachment into the Mt. Apo Forest Reserves will be stopped immediately.”