DENR, FPRDI, TESDA turn hot logs into school desks
September 3, 2012
The lack of desks for the country’s public schools may soon become a thing of the past as confiscated logs and flitches from the CARAGA region are converted into lumber that are turned into school desks, chairs and tables.
According to FPRDI Director Romulo T. Aggangan, “With the implementation of Executive Order No. 23, millions of board feet of logs, flitches and lumber have been seized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from illegal logging operators, especially in CARAGA. DENR then thought of a project that would turn these seized materials into desks, chairs and tables which are badly needed in many of our public schools.
“Thru its Forest Management Bureau (FMB) DENR funds and supervises the project, while FPRDI takes charge of sawmilling the logs and flitches using its mobile sawmill. Four units of such sawmill will soon be deployed in CARAGA to sustain operations.”
“In the last seven months,” adds Director Aggangan, “FPRDI crew have been stationed in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, sawmilling hot logs deposited at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office. The lumber is then turned over to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur which manufactures the school desks, chairs and tables.” (Rizalina K. Araral, 23 July 2012)
