PCG: Personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Calapan detained a truck loaded with coconut lumber at Calapan Port in Oriental Mindoro which will be transported outside the province last July 11 amid the ban in cutting coconut trees nationwide.

The Philippine Coconut Authority has recently temporarily suspended the issuance of permits on cutting of coconut trees since January 3 this year.

Accordingly, while the truck was in the weighing bridge of the port, a certain Mr Mario V Batinga who was the truck driver declared to the duty personnel of CGSS Calapan and local police that it was loaded with several sacks of rice.

However, further inspection revealed that the truck was carrying a total of 10,844 board feet of coconut lumber with estimated market value of Php 130,128.00 to be transported in Manila.

Immediately, the team apprehended the truck for violating the Provincial Executive Order Number 85 Section 1 otherwise known as the “Temporarily Suspending the Cutting of Coconut Tress within the Province of Oriental Mindoro and/or the Shipment of Coconut Timber outside the Province.” Moreover, its transport/transhipment clearance was already expired.

As of press time, the truck is still detained in PNP Calapan. Relatively, CGS Calapan turned-over the owner of the cargo identified as Mr. Anecito Villanueva together with Batinga to PNP Calapan for further investigation.