CABANATUAN CITY – Two public elementary schools in a municipality that used to be an area of illegal logging activities in the province received a volume of lumber from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in a turn over ceremonies here that coincided with the opening of classes on Monday.
Gary Zaldy Flores of Calabasa Elementary School (CES) and Marjorie Flores, head teacher of F. Buencamino Elementary School (FBES), both of Gabaldon town, received 5,011 board feet of lumber confiscated by the community environment and natural resources office (Cenro) Nueva Ecija-South from suspected illegal loggers this year.
Dr. Rafael Otic, provincial environment and natural resources officer (Penro) of Nueva Ecija said FBES received 2,160 board feet while FBWS got 2,930.
He said the donation was in line with DENR’s thrust to use disposable logs and limber for public infrastructure, particularly schools.
Otic said the lumber were not subject of any court case since they were abandoned when recovered by government troops.
Flores said CES has requested lumber from the DENR to be used for the roof and windows of some of their classrooms.
“Matagal na naming kailangan ng kahoy para maipagawa ang aming bubong,” she said during the turn over rites held at the Old Capitol here Monday afternoon.
For the CES, the lumber will be used for the construction of a hut that serves as room for special activities of school children, Flores said.
Gabaldon, a mountainous municipality of Nueva Ecija has been an area of operations for illegal logging in the past. A former executive of the town has been tagged for several times in the illicit activity.
Meanwhile, 85 percent of Nueva Ecija’s 1,600 policemen were deployed in streets near school premises to ensure the orderly opening of classes, according to Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, Nueva Ecija police director.
But aside from usual traffic duties, he said the lawmen were also tasked to keep an eye for illegal vices, such as computer games, near the learning institutions. “We have the law regarding these things,” he stressed.
Several local government units, including this city, have passed ordinances prohibiting the admission of school children during school hours.
