(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 07 December 2025) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "WILMA" was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Matuguinao, Samar (12.2°N 125.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is moving West Northwestward at 15 km/h. Shear Line affecting the eastern section of Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting the rest of Luzon. Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds from northeast to northwest will prevail over the western sections of Mindanao with moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.1 meters). Elsewhere, moderate winds from the northwest to southwest to southeast with moderate seas (1.2 to 2.5 meters).


Thursday, 25 July 2024

Project LAWIN reduces illegal logging hotspots in Caraga

By Mariesh F. Celedeña

OIC, Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo

BUTUAN CITY –  “There is a significant decrease in the number of illegal logging hotspots in the Caraga region from 17 to 6.”

This is the notable statement of OIC, Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on July 16 at DENR Regional Office Training Center, Butuan City.

“In 2017, DENR Caraga recorded 17 illegal logging hotspots in the region. In 2023, it decreased to 7, and in June 2024 one more area was trampled down and under probationary review. We are determined to bring this down to 50 percent by 2027 or 2028,” Dir. Ocampo said in detail.

“These illegal logging hotspots are from the province of Agusan del Sur namely, municipalities of Esperanza, Talacogon, San Luis, and Loreto, including the towns of Lianga and Lingig in Surigao del Sur,” she added.

This accomplishment can be attributed to the Project Landscape and Wildlife Indicator System (LAWIN) which is a forest and biodiversity protection system that aims to protect, conserve, properly use, and sustainably manage forestry and biological resources.

Project LAWIN has 67 forest protection officers who vigilantly patrol and monitor the forest conservation areas in the region. A total of 7,951 kilometers were being patrolled by these forest protection officers exceeding their target of 6,960 kilometers in 2023.

“Sustaining the efforts on anti-illegal logging operation is another contributor in the decrease of illegal logging hotspots in Caraga wherein DENR and law enforcement agencies of the government apprehended a total of 667,260.77 board feet (bd. ft.) in 410 incidents and confiscated 743,151 bd.ft. in 486 incidents,” Ocampo relayed. 

DENR Caraga further collaborated with adjacent regions like Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao and Davao Region so the illegal forest products will be intercepted and will not reach the end market. It also strengthens projects under the National Greening Program (NGP) so communities in the illegal hotspot areas will divert their income from cutting trees and instead help the government against illegal logging.

Caraga region, as the timber capital of the South, has 976,072.21 hectares of forest conservation area. (MFC/PIA-Caraga)

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