Seized timber drives school, facility repairs in Quezon

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Confiscated timber from anti-illegal logging operations is repurposed to repair public schools and government facili...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Confiscated timber from anti-illegal logging operations is repurposed to repair public schools and government facilities in northern Quezon. (DENR Regional Office 4A)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Confiscated timber from operations against illegal logging is now being used to repair public schools and government facilities in northern Quezon. The move helps ease material shortages and improve conditions in communities where damaged infrastructure often remains unrepaired.

For many remote areas, limited access to affordable construction materials often slows down repair work on public buildings. Using seized timber helps close this gap while also turning enforcement efforts into direct support for schools and local government facilities.



Under existing DENR procedures, confiscated timber goes through checking, documentation, and legal processing before it can be released through a Deed of Donation. Only materials cleared of ownership claims and legal restrictions are distributed to qualified government institutions for public use.

The DENR Regional Office 4A, through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Real town, reported that confiscated forest products are being allocated to repair aging and damaged public structures. The distribution follows established legal procedures to ensure that all materials are properly recorded and used for legitimate public purposes.

Records from CENRO-Real show that since 2010, a total of 179,018.96 board feet of confiscated lumber have been distributed to various beneficiaries. This volume, equivalent to more than 422 cubic meters, reflects the office’s continuing support for public institutions and local communities.

OIC-CENRO Victor D. Ombajino personally conducted inspections of various schools and local government facilities to assess how the donated timber was used in completed repair works. The inspections verified that the materials provided through the Deed of Donation were properly used in restoring damaged structures.

Among the sites visited were the Barangay Abiawin outpost, Barangay Abiawin Elementary School, PiCaB Elementary School, Infanta National High School, and Binonoan Elementary School in Infanta town. These facilities are among those that used the donated timber for the repair and improvement of old and damaged infrastructure.

Authorities emphasized that all timber released for these projects came from forest products seized during operations against illegal logging in the area. The DENR Region 4A said the materials were properly recorded and processed before being distributed to qualified recipients.

“All the timber distributed came from illegal forest products confiscated by the office, ensuring that these materials are properly accounted for and redirected to lawful use,” Ombajino said.

The DENR said that the distribution of confiscated wood is processed through a formal Deed of Donation issued to qualified recipients. The process requires checking that the timber has no legal claims before it is approved for turnover to schools and government offices.

“Instead of going to waste, the materials are distributed through a Deed of Donation so they can be used by public schools and other government agencies,” the DENR Region 4A said.

Ombajino said the office continues to accept requests from institutions needing timber for repair or construction projects across the province. He added that applicants only need to submit complete documentary requirements for the processing of the Deed of Donation.

In a recent operation, forest protection personnel intercepted around 40 pieces of newly cut lumber along the Agos River in General Nakar. The seized timber, believed to include red lauan, had an estimated volume of about 827 board feet.

No individual came forward to claim ownership of the confiscated wood recovered during the enforcement operation in the area. Authorities have since started the legal process to formally transfer the materials for government use.

The Agos River serves as a common route for transporting illegally cut logs from upland areas of the Sierra Madre, where timber is moved downstream to avoid detection. This method allows illegal operators to bypass road checkpoints and retrieve the logs at designated collection points.

Stretching along Luzon’s eastern seaboard, the Sierra Madre mountain range remains the country’s largest remaining tract of old-growth tropical rainforest. It continues to serve as a critical natural barrier and a priority area for forest protection and conservation efforts.