MANILA – The provinces of Batanes and Cagayan received lumber worth PHP4.6 million from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to help rebuild houses and schools devastated by the recent tropical cyclones.
In a news release Tuesday, the DENR said both provinces got more than 78, 000 board feet (bd. ft.). Its Cagayan Valley regional office donated 4, 791 pieces of lumber materials, totaling 63, 260.62 bd. ft., to the Batanes provincial government for the repair and construction of homes in the island municipalities of Basco, Itbayat, Ivana, Mahatao, Sabtang and Uyugan, which were severely impacted by Super Typhoon Julian (international name Krathon).
Over 1, 000 pieces of lumber, totaling 14, 879.92 bd. ft. were handed over to the Department of Education to rehabilitate schools in the second district of Cagayan province that were heavily damaged by Typhoon Marce (Yinxing).
“Despite the challenges posed by successive typhoons, we were able to mobilize our resources and work with our partners to provide the much-needed aid to typhoon victims,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said.
DENR Cagayan Valley Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said the wood materials were sourced from confiscated forest products that are under the custody of DENR in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.
The materials also included logs turned over by mining companies in Nueva Vizcaya. (PNA)