TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Provincial Government of Cagayan has urged the Technical Task Force of the Cagayan Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (CailTF) to strictly implement the policies against illegal logging.

Maria Rosario Villaflor, Provincial Administrator, called on the CailTF to intensify the provincial government’s fight against illegal logging among thousands of felled trees that were exposed when the floods receded in Barangay Baua in Gonzaga town.

Also during the fourth quarter CailTF meeting on Wednesday, Villaflor expressed dismay that despite the formation of CailTF and the promotion of the “I Love Cagayan River Movement,” there are still illegal activities that are slowly destroying the environment.

“Therefore, it is necessary to intensify and focus more on the strict implementation of policies against illegal logging as well as the activities carried out by every agency dedicated to protecting the environment,” she said.

Villaflor also said that for many years Governor Manuel Mamba has tried to protect and preserve the province’s forest, especially the Sierra Madre.

She noted that after the governor assumed office, he immediately started planting trees and cultivating activities.

“It’s about time we do our job, not just as government personnel and employees or public officials but for humanity. We must protect the environment for future generations,” Villaflor said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) in Cagayan said it is investigating the incident.

John Mark Paracad, Penro Cagayan officer, said they have assigned five groups from different departments of their office to conduct a study and investigate where the drifting trees in the Baua-Wangag River came from.

Paracad said it has been given a special order to conduct an investigation together with the provincial and local authorities.

“We want a multidisciplinary team that comes from different sectors to avoid biased perceptions,” he said, adding that they are determined to do what they can and submit unbiased reports to the governor on the incident.

Villaflor said they have reviewed the necessary measures to apprehend individuals who smuggle and sell illegally harvested timber as well as rewards for those who would report illegal logging.