2014, March 31
July 18, 2014
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has step up investigation on the reported illegal hunting of birds and cutting of trees in Adams, an emerging eco-tourism destination recently declared as the “last frontier of dipterocarp forest.”
On April 2, personnel of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office based in neighboring Bangui town visited Adams to conduct a probe following netizens’ outrage over a local hunter of Adams, proudly holding up a carcass of a juvenile hornbill with his air gun. Said photo was captured by tourists who are members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines visiting the area and posted it in a social networking site on March 31. Aside from the man in photo later on identified as Mikel Dato, son of Adams councilor Julian Dato and also a son-in-law of Adams Vice Mayor Wagner Poking, photos of cut logs and rampant practices of slash and burn in the area were documented by tourist as well. All these were posted online.
Under DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2013-XX signed by Sec. Ramon J.P. Paje, the wildlife critical habitat of Adams is meant to help protect and conserve Ilocos Norte’s “last frontier of dipterocarp forest,” and all floral and faunal species living there.
