Poachers cut 1,874 board feet of mangrove trees for charcoal, in Barangays Balaring and Lantad in Silay City, the Task Force Ilahas reported yesterday.

The 50-hectare mangrove area is among the tourist destinations of Silay City.

Police Inspector Paulino Sandrino, who led the spot inspection of damaged mangrove areas in coordination with Balaring barangay chairman Remy Roldan, said yesterday that they initially visited two of the three mangrove sites damaged by poachers.

Aside from abandoned trunks and branches of illegally-cut mangrove trees, Sandrino said they also discovered two charcoal pits in Brgy. Lantad, Silay City.

The TFI investigation shows that poachers transported the illegally-cut mangrove trees through the seashore of Brgy. Balaring, towards neighboring Brgy. Lantad, for conversion into charcoal.

Sandrino said they already have four suspects, although he has withheld their names, pending further investigations and the filing of charges against them in court.

In previous years, the city government of Silay had launched the Balaring Mangrove Rehabilitation Project that aimed to preserve its shoreline as a fish sanctuary and breeding area for assorted varieties of shells, including the famous “diwal”.*GPB

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