79 trees to fall for oval project

CEBU CITY—Seventy-nine trees of different species will be cut down today in Naga City, not because of a road-widening project but rather the construction of a track and field oval inside a school.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas has granted the request of the Naga City government to cut the trees inside Naga Central Elementary School, its regional information officer, Eddie Llamedo, told the Inquirer in a text message.

“A government-initiated project is one of the exemptions, as stated in the memorandum circular of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, provided it complies with all requirements and conditions,” Llamedo said. Naga officials have complied and submitted the requirements, including endorsements or clearances, he added.

Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong confirmed today’s tree-cutting activity, saying the oval project had long been stalled. The project, he said, would boost the participation of the youth in sports in the city.

Apart from its bigger space, he said, the project site was once an oval, too. The 400-meter, standard-size track and field oval would be constructed at a cost of P60 million, he said.

Demetrio Ignacio Jr., environment undersecretary for field operations, gave the clearance to cut the trees on Sept. 23 upon the request for a special permit by Ramiro Hilado, city environment and pollution officer, in a letter on April 25. The permit was issued only on Oct. 24 and signed by the department’s regional director, Isabelo Montejo.

According to an inventory report done by forester Filemon Embalzado, the doomed trees include 48 mahogany, 15 agoho, 10 narra, five neem and one lomboy species.