Maitum, Sarangani Province — A multi-agency law enforcement operation led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Region 12 has confiscated more than 100 pieces of illegally sourced lumber used for unauthorized boat-making activities in Maitum, Sarangani Province.
The raid, carried out on August 21, resulted in the seizure of 102 pieces of Yakal and Lauan hardwood — species strictly regulated due to their ecological importance. The forest products measured 3,497.97 board feet, with an estimated market value of ₱157,408.65, averaging ₱44.15 per board foot.
The operation was supported by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Sarangani, CENRO Kiamba, PAMO-SBPS, PNP-Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Maitum.
Initial assessments suggest that the timber may have been taken from protected forest zones, posing a direct threat to local biodiversity and fragile ecosystems.
“This seizure underscores the urgent need to clamp down on illegal logging and forest product trafficking in Region 12,” DENR-12 said in a statement, adding that the region has already recorded the confiscation of over 10,000 board feet of illegal lumber since January 2025.
All identified violators are set to face Show-Cause Orders and Cease-and-Desist Orders, while a formal adjudication hearing has been scheduled to determine appropriate penalties.
DENR-12 stressed that sustained enforcement is vital to halting environmental degradation. “We remain committed to protecting the region’s natural resources and ensuring that forest products are managed sustainably,” the agency emphasized.
The confiscated lumber is now under government custody as investigations continue.