wooden boat: Large wooden boat seized by DENR MAITUM, Sarangani (8 September) -- A half-finished wooden boat two-storey high and longer than a basketball court lies abandoned in the coastal barangay of Pinol after no one claimed ownership when authorities swooped down.

Maitum police chief Senior Inspector Geronimo Dimayuga inspected the boat yesterday but nobody around would tell about its owner.

The boat has three decks with bridge, crew cabin with built-in beds and engine room that can hold at least four cars.

Authorities said the boat was "60% complete" and locals were calling it "Noah's Ark" because it was entirely made of wood.

Local officials pegged the boat's value at P5 million when completed and fitted with engine.

The boat, 94 feet long with a width of 18.5 feet, was seized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on August 23.

A public notice has been issued by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to inform "whoever is the owner" of the abandoned boat "to submit any legal documents within three days upon this posting to support the source of wood materials."

"Otherwise this apprehended item shall be recommended forfeited in favor of the government," said the notice, a copy of which was received by a barangay official Monday.

A composite team from DENR, municipal government and the police which seized the boat was "facing a blank wall," CENRO Ruel Divino reported.

In a memorandum for DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes dated August 30, Divino said "there was no one who was willing to divulge the identity of owner for fear of reprisal."

The CENRO recommended that the boat "be disposed immediately thru public auction in 'as is where is' basis."

Divino said the lumber used has a scaled volume of 20,426.65 board feet of batete, yakal, and lambayao hardwood with total value of P612,799.

The seized boat has been placed in the custody of Pinol barangay kagawad Sarifa Ulangkaya. (Sarangani IO/PIA 12)  ¶ 11:27 PM