Gwen and DENR to sue DPWH for cutting trees

CEBU, Philippines - The Fourth District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 will be facing criminal and administrative charges for indiscriminately cutting trees along the national road in some southern towns of the Province of Cebu.

Both the Capitol and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – 7 will be filing separate charges against the officials and personnel of 4th DEO of DPWH-7 headed by Engr. Fernando Cruz.

Based on the complaint of some town officials, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia called the attention of Cruz last Thursday afternoon for the cutting of trees along the road.

Cruz reportedly told Garcia that they are just pruning the trees that have posed hazards but the governor was in a rage when she saw the photos captured by the Capitol personnel.

In a press conference yesterday, Provincial Engr. Eulogio Pelayre showed to media several photographs showing logs, branches and stumps of Dol-dol, Coco, Mahogany, Magtalisay, Anyelan, Tamarind, Star Apple, and Dita along the highway of barangays Banhigan, Poblacion, Malhiao and Manduyong, all in Badian town.

“Ma-notice nato nga ang distansya sa kahoy ug sa ngilit sa karsada 4-5 meters makapangutana ka nga necessary ba nga putlon ni,” Pelayre said.

Pelayre said that do not have yet the actual count of the number of trees cut because they are still conducting inventory in other towns.

Showing the presentation made by Pelayre, Forester Juanito Pua, chief of the Forest Resources Conservation Division, Forestry Sector of DENR-7, said that DPWH personnel have violated Presidential Decree No. 953 signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos on July 6, 1976.

“They have not informed nor applied with the DENR regarding the clearing operations along this national road, they are supposed to submit their written applications for the cutting or request for the cutting of these trees,” Pua said.

PD 953 requires the planting of trees in certain places and penalizing unauthorized cutting, destruction, damaging and injuring of certain trees, plants and vegetation.

Pua said they already have instructed the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) based in Argao town to undertake investigation and inventory of those trees in order to come up with the exact number of trees being damaged.

This will also be documented to support the filing of the case against the perpetrators, said Pua.

“Although DPWH is also a national agency, that’s the law, we have to implement the law,” he added.

Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla said that he was already instructed by Garcia to prepare the complaint so she can sign it on Monday before leaving for an official trip to three countries in Latin America.

Martinquilla said they will be filing charges against all the officials and personnel of the 4th DEO-DPWH-7.

“Di naman kinahanglan to lalison ang among nakit-an, grabe man kaayo na nga destruction,” Martinquilla said.

Garcia also ordered Martinquilla to recover the vehicles and equipments provided to the 4th DEO for the on-going beautification as part of the search for the Best E-Gwen Highway.

She also ordered an inventory to make sure the incident is not happening in other areas of the province.

“The provincial government especially the governor is not taking this lightly. This is a very serious offense not only against the governor of the provincial government but against the environment,” said Capitol consultant and spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda.

Sepulveda said that this sends strong message to those who are planning to do the same that they should be ready because the provincial government will go all out against them.—(FREEMAN)