Cutting of 50-year-old tree stirs Sibonga

IT stood for about half a century but now it is just a stump along a highway in Sibonga town.

And residents have mixed feelings about the cutting of the mahogany tree (Swietenia macrophylla)which had a base diameter of 38 inches in barangay Sabang.

Those living near it said the tree needed to be cut as its roots were causing cracks in their home’s floor.

Sibonga resident Zacaria Campo on the other hand said the cutting was illegal as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources did not issue a cutting permit.

Sabang barangay Captain Ma. Cleofe Macalinao said that the request to cut down the tree came from the owners of the lot where the old tree stood.

Macalinao said that the tree was cut down because couple George and Antonia Isabelo complained of cracks in their flooring because of the tree’s roots.

“Naa man gud siya duol sa kalsada. Mukalit lang ug paka ang mga sanga. Basin nya pud ug mahagbungan ug mga sanga ang mga tawo nga mangagi,” Macalinao said.

(It’s located along the road. People might be hit by branches falling off the tree.)

Antonia Isabelo said that they have asked permission from local authorities and were told that the tree can be cut provided they ask permission from the barangay council.

Miguelito Paller of the Municipal Agriculture Office, told Cebu Daily News that the DENR permit is no longer necessary as it was the owner of the lot where the tree stood who requested the cutting, and mahogany is an exotic species.

But DENR spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said that the cutting of the mahogany tree is still considered illegal since no permit was secured from their office.

Llamedo also said that the lot owner’s request to cut down the tree should have the Certificate of Tree Ownership (CTO) to verify ownership of the lot where the tree stood.