The Provincial Board (PB) is requesting two government agencies to suspend the cutting of trees affected by the Naga-Carcar road-widening project in south Cebu.
It said a “strategic management plan” should be made first by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) before any tree is removed.
“The province supports development initiatives that lead to social and economic growth but this has to be balanced with envrionmental protection and conservation,” said the resolution sponsored by PB Member Thadeo Ouano.
The board cited Cebu Province’s Environment Code which provides for conservation of “natural heritage”, referring to the century-old acacia trees among the affected trees.
Ecology advocates headed by lawyer Aaron Pedrosa yesterday met with Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale urging the Capitol to file for a cease-and-desist order against the tree-cutting.
Authority
Magpale said she has to consult the PB on the move first.
Pedrosa was joined by lawyers Rose-Lisa Osorio, Dante Ramos, Genevieve Tabada and Gloria Estenzo-Ramos.
DENR clarified that the acacia or rain trees along barangay Perrelos in Carcar City are not part of the special tree-cutting permit issued to DPWH.
“I would like to emphasize here that the permit covers a 2-kilometer stretch of the road widening traversing three barangays in Tinaan, Langtad, and Inoburan, all in Naga City and not in Carcar City or even in San Fernando,” said Regional DENR-7 Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo.
The DENR permit allows the DPWH to cut down 42 trees, earth-ball 92 trees of different varieties and maintain 16 century-old acacia trees.
Among the trees to be cut down are seven old acacia trees considered “deteriorated” and in danger of collapsing.
In barangay Inoburan, Naga City, residents living near the fully grown acacia trees along the national highway said they weren’t consulted by their barangay officials about plans to cut down the trees.
“Dili gyud ko musugot unta kay init na kaayo diri sa amo (I won’t agree to that because it’s already hot here),” said 73-year-old Andres Degoma who lives near an acacia tree labeled number 110 in barangay Inoburan.
He said no one approached him or invited him to a public consultation.
Degoma said there’s no truth to reports that the acacia tree in front of their house is endangering their lives and property.
Conditions
The acacia tree near his house is among the seven acacia trees identified by the DENR in its “advanced stage of decay and could not be rehabilitated or undergo surgery.”
The DENR-7 said a resolution signed by three barangay chairmen in Tinaan, Langtad, and Inoburan confirmed that during the consultation, there was no objection among the residents to cut down the trees.
The tree in front of Degoma’s house stands close to the widened road.
There are trees sticking out in the middle of the newly paved road lanes.
While the contractor is waiting for the trees to be cut, AR Adlawan Construction is working on some of the drainage canals beside the widened road.
Some of the workers are digging beside the trees to start construction of the drainage.
Vicente Libor Jr., a 60-year-old resident of barangay Langtad said he would oppose the cutting down of the century-old trees.
“Even if the barangay (official) would call me I will say no,” Libor said.
Earth-balling costs
DENR issued DPWH-7 a permit to cut 42 trees including seven acacia trees.
DENR set 12 conditions before any tree-cutting can take place.
DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas said they don’t have a budge yet to earth-ball 96 trees in Naga city.
A previous estimate by the DENR placed the cost at P1 million to P1.5 million for a full grown tree.
He said the costs will depend on how big and old the tree is, the place where it would be re-planted, and the persons tasked to do the earth-balling and maintenance of the trees.
DPWH is required to plant 13,800 seedlings costing P897,000 to replace the trees.
Replanted
Canlas said they are still working to comply with the 12 conditions set in the special tree cutting permit given to them by DENR last September.
Llamedo said the earth-balled trees should be replanted near Naga City or one hour after it is uprooted.
DPWH should maintain at least an 80 percent survival rate of the earthballed trees. They are required to plant 100 seedlings for every earth-balled tree that would die.
DPWH is only required to earth-ball five trees per day which means, it would take them 19 days to earth-ball all 96 trees. Senior Reporter Marian Z. Codilla and Correspondents Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Peter L. Romanillos