Gov. Sol throws support for EO 23

Gov. Sol Matugas

Gov. Sol Matugas has expressed her full support over President Benigno Aquino III’s issuance of Executive Order (EO) 23 which orders a total log ban all over the country.

Signed by the President on February 1, EO 23 declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber from natural and residual forests, prohibiting for an indefinite period the cutting down of trees not planted by man.

“I like that, I support that because that has been our dream to really enforce the law in illegal logging,” said Gov. Matugas.

The lady governor said that it is really a good move for the present administration to protect the remaining forest cover of the country. “What I would like to expect from the present administration is that they must have a political will in enforcing the law,” said Gov. Matugas.

Gov. Matugas also suggested a tree-farming concept where loggers are only allowed to cut trees in a designated area. “What I would also like to suggest to the present government is that they should identify a designated area where to cut trees, somewhat like a tree-farming concept.”

“The government should plan ahead of time on what trees they are going to cut. We can’t really say na waya gajuy utdon (that we don’t cut trees anymore),” Gov. Matugas added.

“We need to plan ahead of time for environmental protection. It’s a no non-sense plan. As for the province, we will support the action of the present administration,” said Gov. Matugas.

Just recently, the province experienced massive flooding which killed at least 6 persons, left 20,537 homeless and has caused the local government multi-million pesos for damaged properties. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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