BUTUAN CITY — In an attempt to eradicate the number of timber poaching in the Caraga region, the Philippine Wood Products Association (PWPA), a group of major wood processing plant operators nationwide signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) "not to buy any illegally cut forest products from illegal cutters and log traders."

  The agreement was signed the other day by PWPA officials led by its president, Antonio Olison and top DENR regional officials led by regional executive director Benjamin Tumaliuan.

  This developed as the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force of Tumaliuan in Loreto town led by Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Eddie Bacomo and CENRO Jovencito Munoz in Talacogon town apprehended an estimated 712 illegally cut logs along the Agusan River.

  The PWPA in the agreement also assured forestry officials that their respective wood processing plants are "open round-the-clock and transparent" for any on-the-spot inspection by concerned agencies, including media.