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By EDWIN IYO,
Correspondent

MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano yesterday hinted of a capitol-spearheaded crackdown on alleged illegal logging operations in the eastern parts of the province after a mayor sounded alarm bells over how these have been hurting the water sources of at least two towns.

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Emano said he wanted the alleged illegal logging operations in the outlying areas of Balingoan town to stop, and that authorities should quickly do something about the problem.

Emano also said the capitol would look into Talisayan Mayor Rommel Maslog’s claim that the illegal logging operations were rampant in the watershed area in the village of Mapua, Balingoan.

He said a capitol team would start the investigation.

Mayor Maslog, chairman of the Gingoog Bay Alliance (GBA), said it was actually the environment and natural resources of Balingoan who brought the matter to the attention of the Alliance during a meeting in Dec. 9.

The watershed in Mapua is a source of water in the municipalities of Balingoan and Talisayan.

The alleged logging operations have been blamed for the supposed drying up of water sources in the two towns.

“Mahimong makaluluoy ang katawhan sa duha ka lungsod kon dili kini mahatagan sa pagtagad,” Emano said.

But Gingoog environment and natural resources officer Conrado Mahinay denied that the watershed has been adversely affected by logging operations.

“Walay problema sa watershed area ug walay illegal cutting nga nahitabo,” Mahinay said.

Mahinay said his office found no sign of illegal logging activities inside watershed area in Balingoan.

“But we will look deeper basin naa sa layo na nga portion wala pa maadtoan,” he said.

Genevieve Cruz, team leader of the GBA group that is looking into the alleged illegal logging operations, said the illegal activities in the watershed area were confirmed in the report of the Balingoan’s environment and natural resources office.

Meanwhile, Maslog said the alleged illegal logging operations have been traced to an operator  from Kinoguitan town.

“Dili lang gyud sila gakasapon kay didto gaagi sa dalan gikan sa maong barangay lusot na sa Kinoguutan,” Maslog said.

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