TACLOBAN CITY – In a concerted effort to ramp up its campaign against illegal logging, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has joined forces with Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8).
Forester Glenn B. Garciano, OIC Chief, Enforcement Division-DENR, underscored the need for additional resources to apprehend those engaged in illicit logging activities, a concern particularly acute in the Samar Provinces, notorious for widespread illegal logging incidents.
Addressing this urgent requirement, PRO8 initiated a comprehensive two-day Deputation Seminar for 286 hand-picked police officers. These officers underwent intensive training on Environmental Laws, preparing them for their roles as Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers.
The Oath-taking ceremony of the selected police personnel, set to be deployed across six provinces in Eastern Visayas, was graced by the presence of Regional Peace and Order Council Chairperson and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez as the Guest of Honor.
Romualdez stressed the importance of maintaining the campaign, highlighting our reliance on the environment for the survival and future prosperity of coming generations.
In the wake of this partnership, DENR expressed optimism that the deputized police officers will significantly curtail instances of illegal logging and ensure the full enforcement of Environmental Laws. —iTacloban (Source: CIO)