Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong has not endorsed the cutting of the 130 heritage trees that may be affected by the widening project of the Naga City to Carcar highway.
Chiong told Cebu Daily News that what he issued before was an endorsement for the cutting of the nine trees that were defective and poses hazard of falling anytime on the highway or properties nearby.
The endorsement was issued last month, said Chiong.
A representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 earlier said that an endorsement from the local government unit of Naga City and Carcar City is required for them to consider issuing tree cutting permits.
Chiong said that they were presented with two options by the DENR and DPWH.
One is to earthball the trees and the other one is to divert the road widening to avoid the heritage trees.
But either way, Chiong said, he will leave it for DPWH to decide since they will be funding the project.
Chiong emphasized that there really is a need for the road widening project especially in the portion from Naga going to San Fernando and Carcar.
“Population is increasing. Naga is already four lanes but when you arrive in Carcar, there are only two lanes,”he said.
“Before we (LGU) take any option, they (DPWH) must first present their options… There has to be sacrifices,” he added.
The DENR 7 in recent pronouncement has favored using the trees standing in the way of the road widening project as highway islands, as tree balling is very expensive.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Board (PB) has not yet taken any stand on the issue during its discussion last week.
Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said they will have to convene again in order to make a unified stand about the issue.
They will be meeting again next week since there’s no session this week because of the holidays.
The heritage trees are acacia trees planted along the highway in 1915 on orders of governor Dionesio Jakosalem.
Jakosalem’s heirs and citizens groups like the Movement for Livable Cebu oppose the cutting of the heritage trees. /Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent