Tree cutting suspended in south Cebu to reassess health of trees, says Gwen

LIFELINE Environmentalists tie a ribbon to the trunk of this tree as they protest the cutting of trees in the cities of Naga and Carcar in this file photo. —INQUIRER PHOTO

CEBU CITY –– Tree cutting in the cities of Naga and Carcar, south Cebu was suspended to give way to an ocular inspection and reassessment of the state of the affected trees.

“There is a possibility that there really is no need to cut all of those trees (in Naga City),” said Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who called for a meeting with the mayors of the two cities, and the regional officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Most of the 32 trees are either at the carriageways or the side of the recently expanded four lanes while some are at the pedestrian walks. None of the trees are on top of the expanded lanes.

But Garcia said there was a consensus among government agencies and the local government units to conduct a reassessment.

This means that each of the trees will undergo tests in the next two weeks to find out its health and if it poses a danger to motorists or residents.

“We all arrived at a consensus that the following two weeks, there will be a reassessment and ocular inspection of all the trees marked for cutting in the Naga road section,” said Garcia.

The Natalio Bacalso South Highway in Cebu is the only road that stretches from Cebu City down to the southernmost town of Santander. Although wider in the urban area, the road shrinks to two lanes going further down south.

Since the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the national government had plans to widen the road, such as those Carcar and Naga.

Following a growing online petition to stop the cutting of trees, Garcia promised to convene concerned officials to discuss the matter.

Present during the meeting called by the governor were representatives of the DENR and DPWH, Naga City Acting Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong and Carcar City Mayor Mercedita Apura.

In Naga City, Mayor Chiong, the DPWH, DENR, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office will be doing the reassessment and ocular inspection for two weeks.

Garcia said another meeting would be held to present the reassessment result.

The governor gave the assurance that the 32 trees would be spared when possible.

In Carcar City, Garcia said there was no budget for a road expansion project in the General Appropriations Act for 2020.

Garcia said environmental advocates and netizens should not fear that the canopy of trees in Perrelos, Carcar City would be gone as they would not be cut.

If the road project extends to Carcar City, Garcia said she would again call for another round of discussions as to the details of such a project. /lzb