NEWSFLASH

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FVR ORDERS HEARINGS ON LUMBER EXPORTS

Malacanang, April 16, 1998 - President Ramos bowed to public pressure and ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct a public hearing on the controversial lifting of the ban on lumber exports.

The Ramos administration was the object of criticism from opposition politicians, environmental groups and Church leaders due to fears that the resumption of lumber exports, banned for nine years, would result of faster destruction of the country's dwindling forests.

Mr. Ramos said the lifting of the ban would be good for farmers and workers in the reforestation areas such as the Caraga region -- Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. The President said the criticism was due to the misconception that raw logs would be exported.

"We're talking mostly of lumber. In other words, there is already value-added, put in by Filipino workers and small and medium enterprises," the president said.

The DENR had explained that only kiln-dried cut lumber would be exported under the new regulations.

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