In a press conference in Quezon City, PWPA (Philippine Wood Producers Association) officials, led by its president Antonio Olizon and board members Evaristo Narvaez Jr. and Fernando Lu, pointed out that a total log ban has “never really worked.” They have pointed out that the reason behind the great flooding of the cities and provinces in the country is because of the climate change and not really from logging. Because of a nationwide log ban or moratorium, the PWPA officials were afraid that it would lead to a loss of at least P30 billion in investments made by firms engaged in the wood industry. Likewise, Philippine wood producers would lose an estimated $1 billion in annual exports of high value-added and high-end finished wood products. The PWPA also warned that up to about 650,000 direct workers in the wood processing and furniture industries would lose their jobs if a total log ban is implemented, possibly resulting in social unrest. They have suggested that those areas beside watershed and other protected forest are the only place that should be covered by the total log ban. Other remaining forest that are covered by timber license agreement (TLAs) and industrial forest management agreements (IFMAs) should be allowed to continue logging. I personally agree with PWPA that areas that are protected should only be the one covered by the log ban, so that our wood industry will not be affected. I would also recommend that legal companies who are into wood furniture industry should also be sensitive. They should replace those woods they’ve cut down. It is true that flooding should not be blamed to the cutting of trees, but also because of the climate change that the whole world is experiencing particularly with Australia and Middle East countries. I am in favor of the log ban but not absolute log ban, because it will affect the wood industry of our country. In addition, it will affect our products that are exported to other countries. Moreover, it will also affect the quality of furniture we are producing. Finally, people should also start taking care of the environment even in simple ways like planting trees. In addition, people should be responsible of their garbage so that it won’t clog the drainage system.
