Benguet Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, requests the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to convert Provincial Resolution No. 697, into an ordinance to ban the tapping of oleoresin, a raw material to produce oil and varnish.
The Provincial Ordinance no. 697 dated August 25, 1980, approved by the late Governor Ben Palispis, seeks to bans the tapping of oleoresin in the province of Benguet.
According to BPENRO head, Julius Kollin, the office wants oleoresin tapping to be banned because it has no benefits for the pine forest.
He also added, that in their research, they found an old resolution banning oleoresin tapping in the province.
Board member, Juan Nazarro, argued that oleoresin tapping might be better because we can get products from it. However, Kollin explained that oleoresin tapping causes the pine tree to be deformed and be prone to fire.
On the other hand, Board Member, Florencio Bentrez, suggested that the tapping be regulated but not entirely prohibited and that there should be pre-conditions before tapping a pine tree.
Several board members suggested that the community, barangay and municipal officials be informed so that they may help in banning the tapping.
The request for the conversion of the resolution to be an ordinance was approved for further study.
By Alyssa Dawn Alalag