MANILA, Jan. 17, 2010—Ranking Catholic Church officials on Monday supported the call for a total log ban in the country.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said non-stop cutting of trees has worsened the massive flooding and landslides that hit several areas in the country recently.
“That’s why we have to take care of our remaining resources and stop logging because nature can take revenge,†Rosales said over church-run Radio Veritas.
President Aquino on Friday said he is planning to enforce a total log ban nationwide after seeing the damage caused by floods and landslides in Southern Leyte, Albay, Caraga and Samar.
“There must be a long-term intervention to all these flooding. Actually, I’m thinking of a total log ban everywhere in the country,†Aquino said.
Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos has welcomed Aquino’s plan to avoid further destruction of the environment.
“We are very happy that it’s (total log ban proposal) coming from the President himself and not from any person,†said Pueblos.
Pueblos also lauded an anti-illegal logging task force for seizing an estimated P210 million worth of illegal cut logs along Agusan del Sur River.
Last Jan.11, Task Force Pagbabago, a body organized by the Department of Natural Resources, confiscated at least 11,412 pieces of undocumented assorted logs found floating in the riverside towns San Luis, Loreto and Talocogon. (CBCPNews)
