Ecological Farmer Cooperators
Pagtinabangay Foundation
RAM Guardians Inc - Alakdan
Nov . 21 - 26 , 2016
Vanguard
Charcoal kilns destroyed
5 in Villareal and Sta Margarita , Samar , mangroves are being cut to turn into charcoal .
Catbalogan City , Samar ( PIA ) – The Catbalogan Community Environment and Natural Resources ( CENRO ) team has destroyed charcoal kilns in the towns of Villareal and Sta Margarita recently , putting a stop to the destruction of mangroves in the area .
CENR Officer Mar Torres , in a press conference said that the more than 45 carcoal kilns called “ bulkan ” in Villareal and “ pugon ” in Sta Margarita are illegal as they use mangrove species for making charcoal .
The “ pugon ” in the barangays of Sta Margarita can produce more than 30 bags in a single operation , he said . Sacks of charcoal are then shipped to Calbayog , Tacloban and Catbalogan where demand is high .
Asked whether they have identified the owners , CEN- RO said that they have and are now preparing charges for violation of environmental laws .
In Villareal town , kids as young as first graders are already experts in making “ bulkan ” that can produce at least two bags of charcoal , said em employee of the CENRO .
When asked what alternative livelihood the DENR can provide the folks engaged in charcoal making , PENR Officer Elpedio Simon said that they have allotted some P20 M for the National Greening Program ( NGP ) in the areas where there is rampant cutting of mangroves .
“ There are people ’ s organization here under contract with DENR for NGP , yet it is sad that they are still doing this ,” said Simon .
The DENR admitted they have no other choice but to file charges against those defiling the environment .
Once again , Simon urged the coastal barangays to refrain from destroying the very mangrove that will protect them once calamities occur .
“ It is absolutely illegal to cut mangrove species ,” said Simon .
Mangroves , he said , are the most diverse ecosystem as fish , crabs and other marine life spawn in them .
( ajc / nbq / PIA 8-Samar )
Greetings to The Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa ( RAM )
on its 27th Anniversary on November 30 , 2016
Greetings from
Ecological Farmer Cooperators
Pagtinabangay Foundation
RAM Guardians Inc - Alakdan