DENR probes forest rangers
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Six forest rangers assigned in the cities of Sipalay and Kabankalan, are being investigated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, for the transport of illegally-acquired forest products in southern Negros.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Jessie Vego, said two of the six rangers have already been relieved of their positions, pending investigation.

Three truckloads of lumber, a mixture of planted and naturally-grown trees, were intercepted by policemen and DENR personnel in Candoni and Sipalay.

The Provincial Health Office is determining whether dengue outbreaks can be declared in some areas in Negros Occidental where there have been deaths and an upsurge of dengue cases, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, PHO officer-in-charge, said yesterday.

“We are asking the Department of Health for the guidelines for declaring a dengue outbreak,” he said.

In 2007, dengue outbreaks had also been declared in some parts of Negros Occidental.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. announced Wednesday the reactivation of the Provincial Task Force on Dengue as deaths from the life-threatening disease in Negros Occidental rose to 10, and the number of cases by 193 percent this year.

The Negros Occidental provincial government is set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with 27 local government units and beneficiaries who are recipient of the P26 million natural resources governance project funded by the European Union today at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol Building.

The project aims to capacitate local government units and the constituents in protecting the forest and aquatic resources of the province through a legislative agenda, Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. said.

Marañon has expressed alarm that, despite the efforts of past administrations, there is much to do to reverse the reduction of our forest covers and protection of our aquatic resources, a Capitol press release said.