Authorities are clueless on who cut down the century-old acacia tree in barangay Tinaan, Naga City that was photographed last Saturday by Cebu Daily News.
Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd District Engr. Daisy Toledo told him “there are certain trees that need to be cut” as recommended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.
Chiong said Toledo did not admit nor deny cutting the photographed tree.
DENR spokesperson Eddie Llamedo confirmed the recommendation but said a ground verification was ordered by Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Regional Technical Director (RTD) Eduardo Inting verify if the trees felled were the ones recommended for cutting.
“We will have to check if the photographed tree is one of the nine that we certified in the inventory last May,” Llamedo told CDN.
The Inventory showed there are 115 trees along the widening project. Of this 25 are century-old, the environment department spokesperson said.
Century-old trees are also considered heritage trees. Of the 25, nine are identified as “defective and considered hazardous which needs immediate attention,” Llamedo quoted the inventory report.
The May inventory team was composed of three representatives from the DENR-7, one from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and one from the DPWH-7.
The exercise was requested by the DPWH.
In barangay Perrelos, Carcar City some residents have mixed ideas on the fate of the canopy of heritage trees being affected by the road widening project.
“Sayangan man ko sa mga karaang kahoy pero peligro na man sad gud sa mga balay sa tungod ug mga sakyanan nga muagi kay basin matumbahan sila,”(We want to preserve the old trees, but they also pose risk to houses nearby and even to motorists as the old trees could snap anytime),” homeowner Mildred Ortaleza said.
Another expressed surprised that the project has started. “Madayon gyud diay ang widening?,” Eva Barcenas Navarra said.
(Is the widening project really pushing through?)
She said, she wants the trees preserved as they have become a tourist attraction in Carcar City.
“Ang kasya (acacia tree) man gud maoy naghatag ug view sa syudad. Manghunong biya ng mga turista aron magpa picture diri,” Navarra added.
(The acacia trees give beauty to the city. Tourist drop by these trees and have their photos taken.)
The P123 million road widening project along Naga-Carcar cities is a project of Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district. /Jessa J. Agua, Correspondent