DENR to poll bets: Spare the trees

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Visayas yesterday “strongly urged” candidates in the May elections to refrain from nailing their campaign materials on trees.

“This is to remind all election candidates that putting up of streamers and tarpaulins on trees especially when using iron nails could stress out and damage its health condition,” Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said.

According to Section 3 of Republic Act 3571, no cutting, destroying, or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas, parks other than national parks, school premises or in any other public ground shall be permitted.

Presidential Decree 953 provides a similar prohibition in section 3 mentioning a punishment of imprisonment for not less than six months and more than two years, or a fine of less than five hundred pesos and not more than P5,000, or with both at the discretion of the court.

“Nailing a certain material beyond the bark of a tree will impair the vigor and structural integrity of a tree as it invites attack by harmful insects, fungi, and diseases,” he said.

The local DENR official ordered community and provincial environment and natural resources officers to issue a notice to all advertisers to remove those materials or ads that were nailed or pierced to a tree.

“We will be monitoring very critically on those areas by noting down certain individuals or corporations who would be violating and we would ask them to take them out or else appropriate actions will be made in accordance with the law,” he said. /Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao