Fate of 300 Pangasinan trees in road project sealed

DAGUPAN CITY—The fate of at least 300 trees that are in the way of a road-widening project in the eastern part of Pangasinan appears to have been sealed.

Councils of towns that are on the route of the project—Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison—have endorsed the project and the plan to kill at least 300 trees in uniform resolutions lobbied by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

While he said he felt sorry for the trees, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. said “we cannot do anything about this because this is a major infrastructure project.”

Although the Department of Environment and Natural Resources hasn’t issued a permit to kill the trees, the provincial environment and natural resources office and the regional DENR office have endorsed a DPWH request to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, according to Leduina Co, Pangasinan environment chief.

Janet Flores, secretary of the Binalonan town council, said a committee hearing was held on the tree-cutting “and not one of the council members objected.”

In Sison, Council Secretary Maria Cristina Garcia said no councilor objected to the plan.

In Pozorrubio, six village chiefs were at a meeting on the tree-cutting but no one opposed the plan, said Council Secretary Alice Fronda.

The trees include premium species like narra and mahogany.

Pangasinan environment chief Co said authorities had decided to cut all the trees. Once cut, Co said, the lumber would be donated to the Department of Education to be turned into chairs and desks.

“We also need materials for chairs and tables in our offices,” said Co.