Task force vs. hazard trees formed

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government yesterday created a task force composed of representatives from the various City Hall departments and government agencies to take care of giant Acacia and palm trees in the city that pose a hazard to the public.

Mayor Michael Rama said he is willing to allocate the necessary funds for the cutting of these unsafe trees or to prune their branches to reduce weight and eliminate the risk of them toppling over.

Alvin Santillana, executive director of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, was chosen as the project coordinator of the task force.

Santillana said he will prepare the necessary memorandum order for the mayor to sign by Monday formally creating the task force to prevent a repetition of what happened last Wednesday when a passenger jeepney was crushed by a fallen Acacia tree along Sikatuna St. in Barangay Zapatera.

“Dalion namo ni aron nga karong su-nod semana makasugod na kami sa among trabaho kay ang report sa City Agriculture Office kapin sa usa ka gatos ka dagkong kahoy nga ania sa atong kadalanan maisip nga hazardous,” he added.

City agriculturist Joelito Baclayon who attended the meeting yesterday said there are 123 giant trees in the city that are located beside roads and Santillana said about 90 percent of them are considered hazards.

The task force will prioritize giant Acacia trees beside Gorordo Ave., particularly near the University of the Philippines; Acacia St. in Barangay Kamputhaw; those near the Guadalupe Elementary School, Barangay Mabolo and M. Velez St.

“Kuyawan mi sa mga Acacia nga anaa atubangan sa Guadalupe Elementary School kay naa ra bay daghang mga tinun-an,” Santillana said.

Another priority are giant trees beside the roads and those within the public lots.

“Kay kadto gud nga mga kahoy nga anaa sa mga private lots mangayo pa man ta og consent sa mga tag-iya kon atong putlon, gawas pa ang ubang mga tag-iya maka-afford man nga sila ray magpaputol,” Santillana said.

Santillana said there is no need to ask permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources when they prune or cut trees already considered hazardous because the task force has a DENR representative.  (FREEMAN)