Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 has donated confiscated illegally transported lumber to aid victims of the recent typhoons in the Cagayan Valley region.
Regional Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan announced that over 63,000 board feet of lumber were successfully delivered to Batanes province, where they will be distributed to families whose homes were partially or totally damaged by Typhoon Julian.
Governor Marilou Cayco of Batanes had requested the lumber to support the immediate rehabilitation of the island province’s infrastructure following the devastation caused by the typhoon.
“The delivery was challenging, as we had to transport the lumber from Subic Bay to Basco, Batanes, aboard a Philippine Navy ship. We also encountered several obstacles along the way, including difficult weather conditions over the past months,” Bambalan explained.
While the local government has already submitted a list of affected families, Bambalan emphasized that they still need to assess whether the houses on the list were totally or partially damaged. This will help determine the amount of lumber to be allocated to each beneficiary.
Additionally, more than 14,000 board feet of lumber have been delivered to the Department of Education for the repair and rehabilitation of school facilities in northern Cagayan, particularly those affected by Typhoons Marce and Ofel.
Bambalan clarified that the lumber being donated had already undergone legal procedures and had been cleared for release by the courts.
Furthermore, DENR Region 2’s provincial offices will also donate lumber to schools in Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya, which were affected by Typhoons Kristine and Nika. (OTB/PIA Region 2)
