MAASIN CITY (PIA) -- Illegally cut lumber seized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Regional Office 8 (DENR-8) and other law enforcement agencies finally served their purpose when these confiscated forest products landed into the hands of typhoon Odette victims.

“The recipient barangays and municipalities in Southern Leyte who received the donated lumber in pieces and with corresponding volume were: Brgy. Son-ok, Pintuyan - 159 pieces (2,017.67 boardfeet);  Brgy. Candayuman, Liloan - 159 pieces (2,576 boardfeet);  and Limasawa - 216 pieces (4,04.67 boardfeet),” DENR-8 stated in its recent report.

Also identified as recipient by the DENR provincial office in coordination with the provincial LGU, the reports said, was the 801st Brigade - 111 pieces (800 boardfeet).

The wood donation totaled 645 pieces with a volume of 9,435.33 boardfeet having an estimated value of P500,000, according to Glenn Garciano, DENR-8 forester.

The undocumented sawn pieces of lumber in assorted sizes were sourced from the three provinces of Samar island, comprising the three provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar.

“We are glad that the fruit of our intensified forest protection and law enforcement efforts in the region will help typhoon victims in Southern Leyte rebuild their houses and structures which were damaged by typhoon Odette last December,” Tirso Parian Jr., DENR-8 regional executive director, was quoted as saying in the DENR report.

For the affected DENR employees in the province, the regional office donated relief goods, used clothing, and financial assistance, the report also said.  (LDL/MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte)