For solar energy project in Cebu, 982 trees felled
CEBU CITY—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Visayas has ordered a power company to stop its construction of a solar energy project in Toledo City after it found that 982 trees had been illegally cut in the area.
“This is the biggest so far in terms of the number of trees cut and mostly premium and native tree species,” Eddie Llamedo, the department’s regional spokesperson, said in an interview.
Raul Pasoc, community environment and natural resources officer (Cenro) in Cebu City, issued the cease-and-desist order on Oct. 28 to SunAsia Energy Inc. (SAEI), through its project manager, Jose Enrique Tolentino. SAEI is the developer of the 55-megawatt project of First Solar Energy Corp.
Notice of violation
Officials of SAEI failed to present a tree-cutting permit when inspectors from the DENR’s enforcement division, Cenro-Cebu City and Cenro-Toledo City came to the project site on Oct. 26.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Visayas also issued a notice of violation to First Solar Energy Corp. on Nov. 4 for the same violation, Llamedo said.
SAEI, a Filipino company which develops renewable energy, specifically solar energy, has cut the trees to clear the 113-hectare project area in Barangay Talavera in Toledo, 54.3 kilometers from this city. Llamedo said a barangay resident informed the Cenro about the illegal logging operation.
A total of 982 species of tipolo, pangantoon, bangkal, bagalunga, lanutan, acacia, narra, mahogany, gmelina, and lamio trees were cut, according to the memorandum issued by Cenro-Toledo supervisor Lutheran Hernando and addressed to Pasoc.
The illegal cutting activities were said to have started in September. The toppled trees were bulldozed and covered with soil materials when the inspectors checked the area.
It took the team four days to account for the volume of felled trees, or approximately 2,190 cubic meters or equivalent to 928,560 board feet with an estimated cost of P18.5 million. One board foot is equivalent to P20.
The DENR will file charges against both companies for violation of Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines, and Executive Order No. 23, declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests.
The regional department “is not antidevelopment as long as it toes the line of the existing forestry and other environmental laws, rules and regulations,” Llamedo said.
