DENR crackdown forces closure of Bohol furniture workshops
TAGBILARAN CITY—More small-scale woodcraft furniture makers in Bohol are facing shutdowns after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued closure and stoppage orders, requiring permits they say were never part of the rules when they began operating.
Operators in the towns of Loay, Loboc, and Sikatuna said they received notices of violation for failing to secure a Wood Processing Plant Permit (WPPP) and an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), forcing many to halt their livelihood.
Among those affected are couple Cesario and Maria Violeta Budiongan of Barangay Botoc Occidental in Loay, whose furniture business was already shut down last year.
Violeta, 48, recalled that on March 8, 2025, her husband was detained for four days over alleged illegal possession of hardwood while recovering from surgery. He was later released on bail.
Juana Suyman of Loay’s Barangay Tayong Occidental, told the Inquirer that she had already complied with earlier requirements, but her documents were rejected under new rules.
‘Struggle’
Jezreel Taculad, 39, who has operated a small furniture shop in Barangay Cambuac Sur, Sikatuna since 2023, said complying with DENR requirements has been a “struggle.”
“We find it hard to secure the WPPP and ECC. Our shop is small, with capitalization of just over a hundred thousand pesos. Why are we being required to comply as if we are a large plant?” Taculad asked.
He noted that despite being registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and holding a mayor’s permit, he still received a stoppage order.
Mario Bagot, 50, of Barangay Oy, Loboc, who has run his furniture shop for 20 years, said the order threatens his family’s survival.
“If I close, how will I feed my eight children?” Bagot lamented.
Local officials have taken notice. Board Member Jamie Aumentado Villamor, along with DTI’s Rey Regis, visited affected furniture makers in Sikatuna, Loboc, and Loay.
Villamor said many of the businesses are small, makeshift workshops trying to sustain daily needs—not large-scale processing plants.
“Many are willing to comply, but they are struggling with complex requirements, high costs, and lack of clear guidance,” she said.
She added that while compliance with the law is necessary, there is a need for policy review and provincial intervention.
Villamor said the provincial government may assist operators in meeting requirements while also urging lawmakers to review existing policies.
Loay Mayor Hilario Ayuban Jr. also expressed concern, noting that at least 29 members of the Loay Wood Users Association could be affected.
“It pains us because these furniture makers rely on this livelihood. They support their families and send their children to school. If there are deficiencies, we should help make compliance easier,” Ayuban said.
