THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 has donated over 78,000 board feet of lumber worth P4.6 million pesos for the reconstruction of houses and schools ravaged by the recent typhoons that hit Batanes and Cagayan provinces.
At least 4,791 pieces of wood with a volume of 63,260.62 board feet were provided to the Batanes provincial government for the repair and construction of homes in the towns of Basco, Itbayat, Ivana, Mahatao, Sabtang and Uyugan that were heavily damaged by typhoon “Julian.”
DENR regional executive director Gwendolyn Bambalan said the materials were sourced from confiscated forest products with orders of finality under the custody of DENR in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya provinces, as well as turned-over logs from mining companies in the province of Nueva Vizcaya.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga cited the importance of a whole-of-government approach to disaster risk reduction, recovery and reconstruction.
She commended the collaborative efforts of DENR Region 2, the Office of Civil Defense, the Philippine Navy, the Air Force, and the Philippine National Police.
“Despite the challenges posed by successive typhoons, we were able to mobilize our resources and work with our partners to provide the much-needed aid to typhoon victims,” Loyzaga said.
