Lumber businesses urged to secure CENRO permit

COMMUNITY Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Baguio is urging all lumber dealers including hardware establishments selling wood products to secure permit.

CENRO-Baguio officer Rainier Balbuena said there are still many establishments operating within their jurisdiction including Baguio City, La Tr i n i d a d , Tuba, Kabayan, Bokod, Sablan and Itogon without any permit.

“Based on record, we have 19 recorded establishments that were recorded which are currently operating, but there is still a big number which have not registered yet,” Balbuena said.

The registration is based on Republic Act No. 1239 otherwise known as “An Act Requiring the Registration of Agents, Contractors, and Dealers in Logs, Lumber and Commercial Piles.”

In a data gathered from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently, there are more than 50 establishments selling lumber and other wood products within Baguio City and La Trinidad.

“We need to implement the law and other existing policies. We will also facilitate the conduct of more trainings and learning events to them so that they will register and follow the law,” Balbuena added.

The law has also provided all persons found to be directly or indirectly responsible for the violation of this Act or of the rules and regulations issued there under will be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand pesos or imprisonment of not more than one year.

Meanwhile, CENRO recently conducted an education and information campaign to lumber dealers on environmental laws pertaining to the provisions of Presidential Decree 705 as amended, Chainsaw Act, and the National Greening Program (NGP).

It was noted some participants needs to be educated because most of them are not aware of existing environmental laws. More information drives will be also intensified. CENRO Baguio Release