According to the Provincial Legal Office, the Negros Occidental provincial government is doing its best to protect the forests in Hinoba-an from illegal loggers and poachers.

According to Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Jose Marie Valencia, who also chairs Task Force Ilahas, a group tasked with enforcing environmental policies, with the forest currently under threat from illegal loggers, they have since recruited 30 volunteers to serve as forest guards.

He noted, it is difficult to ignore the area as it is home to century-old trees and wildlife, which the provincial official said are native to the island.

Valencia added, they have already identified two individuals responsible for a recent illegal logging incident in the area and are now preparing criminal charges. While he did not elaborate on their identities, the provincial official said the two suspects are residents of Basay, Negros Oriental./DGB, WDJ