DENR prepares to sue DPWH for tree cutting

BAGUIO CITY—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is gathering documents for a suit against the Department of Public Works and Highways and a contractor because they allegedly defied its instructions not to cut 32 trees inside the protected forests of Camp John Hay.

Edgardo Flor, city environment and natural resources officer, said DPWH and the road construction firm were liable for removing 13 pine trees along the path of a road-widening project despite the absence of a tree-cutting permit inside the forested area of Barangay Happy Hallow early this month. The firm reportedly used a backhoe to push the pine trees out of the area being paved with concrete.

Flor said the DPWH and the firm also cut 19 more pine trees on April 20 despite a cease and desist order (CDO) he issued.

“DPWH finally sent us an application for a tree-cutting permit covering 157 trees, but only after we called their attention to the violation and because of our CDO. But they still proceeded to cut more trees without determining first if DENR would approve their request,” Flor said.

“[DENR inspection teams] observed that the trees were pushed out of the ground, with roots and all, using machines,” he said.

The DENR recovered the fallen trees, Flor said.

The DPWH Cordillera office and the Baguio engineering district were not prepared to issue a statement when the Inquirer reached the offices on Friday. Their officials were either out of town or were busy with road inspections.

But documents showed that the pine trees were cut to make way for the last stage of the Baguio circumferential road project.

The circumferential road was designed to provide an alternative route to motorists going to Camp John Hay, which would not require them to pass through busy Session Road and the central business district, a briefing paper from the Regional Development Council showed.

The road also connects the three major routes to the mountain resort—Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road—in order to provide tourists an alternative road to several Baguio destinations, the document said.

But its completion required the widening of a road traversing Happy Hallow, one of the villages inside the Camp John Hay reservation, Flor said.

“More trees line Balacbac Road, which would complete the circuit, and we fear these would be cut unless we take this matter to court,” he said.

The government’s process of issuing tree-cutting permits drew attention early this month when a local court issued a temporary environmental protection order  against mall giant SM to stop it from earth balling 182 trees pending the resolution of a suit filed by various groups. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon