Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Ragay Degamo, who was a fisherman before entering into politics, believes it is of paramount importance to take care first of our forests to be able to efficiently take care of our marine resources.
Degamo issued his statement during a press conference Wednesday as the provincial government marks environment month with activities, like an environment bike-run last week.
The Governor said illegal cutting of trees in forested areas would result in massive siltation that goes directly to the sea. In effect, this would result in the destruction of marine life.
Degamo said his administration is serious in protecting the environment, from the forest to the lowlands and to the seas, where a total of 37 marine protected areas are being maintained by the province.
As head of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, the governor said it is funding an additional ten forest guards to complement the existing forest protection personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office. (PNA/Juancho Gallarde)