The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) Enforcement Team apprehended two individuals for illegally possessing one chainsaw unit in Barangay. Binduyan, Puerto Princesa City on November 3, 2021.
The said persons were caught in the act of illegally cutting down a Mango tree using a chainsaw unit without a serial number along the North National Highway at 2:36 PM on the same day. They claimed to have borrowed the unregistered chainsaw unit from another resident of the same barangay who purchased the unit from an online website.
They were charged for violating R.A. 9175 or the “Chainsaw Act of 2002” which penalizes any person who is found to be in possession of a chain saw and uses the same to cut trees in forest land or elsewhere without any permit from the government. Criminal liability of imprisonment of up to six years and one day to eight years or a fine of not less than thirty thousand pesos but not more than fifty thousand pesos or both at the discretion of the court shall be imposed if found guilty of the offense.
This successful operation by the PCSDS enforcement team is one of the results of PCSDS’ initiative to intensify the enforcement of environmental laws in Palawan.
Meanwhile, the PCSDS encourages persons who happen to have known individuals who may have violated environmental laws, to report them immediately thru hotline numbers 0935-116-236 (Globe/TM) and 0948-937-2200 (Smart/TNT). You may also send us a message through our Facebook page for your other concerns.
