In Baguio, village councils allowed to cut, clear ‘obstructing’ trees

FALLEN Supertyphoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri) lashed through Baguio City this week, toppling old trees that hit houses and establishments in residential districts and in forested areas like Camp John Hay, as shown in this photo taken on Friday. —JOEL ARTHUR TIBALDO/CONTRIBUTOR

BAGUIO CITY—The Baguio City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo) authorized all 128 barangays to cut down trees that pose a danger to lives and property, including trees currently obstructing roads and pathways.

More than a hundred Baguio trees were toppled by the fierce winds of Supertyphoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri) that lashed through this city, like in most parts of Northern Luzon, between Wednesday and Thursday, according to the latest tally of the city’s disaster management office.

Baguio police officers removed two trees that crashed near Fort del Pilar Elementary School at the Philippine Military Academy on Thursday. Two of the school’s classrooms were damaged by the typhoon, which had already exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning.

Toppled

Trees familiar to residents and frequent visitors were toppled by Egay, particularly along Harrison Road beside the famous Burnham Park in the city’s downtown area, as well as a giant tree that stood guard beside the steps of Lourdes Grotto.

The Cepmo clearance, which was also announced on social media by the city’s public information office on Thursday, temporarily suspended the strict regulatory requirements imposed by the city government for cutting trees.

Tree cutting has been allowed starting on Thursday until Monday next week, the Cepmo said.As of Friday, the vegetable-producing towns of Bakun, Bokod, Kibungan and Kapangan in Benguet province still have no power supply due to numerous electric poles toppled or damaged by Egay, according to lawyer Delmar Cariño, acting manager of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco), which also serves Baguio City.

But Beneco has restored 81.15 percent of the electricity in the summer capital; 91.77 percent in the Benguet’s capital town of La Trinidad, home to most vegetable and strawberry farms; 78 percent in Atok town, which is famous for its flower farms; 77.05 percent in the tourist town of Tublay town; and 62.81 percent in the mining town of Mankayan.

Power had also been restored to some areas of other Benguet towns of Buguias, Sablan, Tuba and Itogon.

—VINCENT CABREZA INQ

RELATED STORY:

Egay, monsoon caused 13 deaths,12 injuries, impacting over 500,000 people – NDRRMC