Parallel with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) campaign to plant five million trees until the end of the Marcos administration’s term in 2028, the agency is protecting existing forests from illegal loggers.

The effort to address deforestation was recently demonstrated by the agency when it presented seized illegal chainsaws at a warehouse in Valenzuela City on 16 April.

The 241 illegally imported counterfeit chainsaws worth P3.6 million were confiscated through a buy-bust operation by the police.

The importer is facing charges of violating the Chainsaw Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9175), which prohibits the sale, distribution or possession of chainsaws without the necessary permits.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga emphasized that the confiscation highlights the government’s commitment to tackling environmental crimes through collaboration with other agencies to protect our natural resources, read a post on DENR’s Facebook page.

The DENR is urging businesses to comply with regulations and calling on everyone to get involved in safeguarding our environment.

Meanwhile, the DENR Cotabato Enforcement Team and police in Matalam, Cotabato arrested a 37-year-old woman during an entrapment operation for illegally selling chainsaws online without the required permits, read another DENR post on Facebook on 29 April.

They confiscated two 20-inch chainsaws, one 36-inch chainsaw, marked money and a cellphone from the suspect, who faces charges under the Chainsaw Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.