Maxie seeks logging ban in areas surrounding Oro

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

REP. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of the city’s 2nd District has called for a legislative ban on logging in Cagayan de Oro and in watersheds around the city but beyond its political territory.

Rodriguez announced on Monday that he has submitted a resolution seeking to beef up his 2017 House Bill 4798 that seeks a logging ban in the city.

But Rodriguez said there are at least seven watersheds surrounding Cagayan de Oro that are located beyond the city’s political boundaries.

A logging ban in Cagayan de Oro alone, he said, would not be enough.

Rodriguez said the fact that the watersheds are outside the city “makes [the problem] difficult to manage.”

He said the local government alone “cannot by itself tackle the herculean task of rehabilitating, preserving and protecting its watershed due to the immense size and location.”

Rodriguez said the Cagayan River has seven watersheds spread across the municipalities of Libona, Talakag, Baungon in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

“Managing these watersheds is close to impossible since these are located outside the political jurisdiction of the city government of Cagayan de Oro. The city government cannot go beyond its territorial jurisdiction, and impose upon other local government units to do their job,” he said.

Rodriguez said a national legislation is needed to guarantee the rehabilitation and preservation of the watersheds.

A logging ban, he said, should be in all the municipalities and provinces where the watersheds are located so as to ensure a balanced ecology, healthy forests and sufficient water supply.

Rodriguez said the city already suffered a great deal of calamities because of logging.

A logging ban, he said, cannot entirely solve the city’s flood problem.

Rodriguez said the logging ban would need to be complemented by a no-nonsense watershed rehabilitation program.

He said there is a need for collaboration with different stakeholders such as the Integrated Social Forestry program beneficiaries and community-based forest management holders.

Rodriguez said a logging ban would affect communities that play a crucial role in preserving and protecting the watersheds.

“Logging is only one of the problems of the city. However, the more pressing concern is the rehabilitation and protection of the city’s watersheds,” he said.