DPWH to release P100M for Naga-Carcar road

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways is set to release P100 million additional funding for the P1.25 billion Naga-Carcar road expansion project.

This was according to former Cebu 1st District representative Eduardo Gullas, who initiated the said project.

"Another P100 million will be released for 2014," said Gullas in an interview with The Freeman, adding that the said project is necessary to decongest traffic in the south.

 Gullas said the project is beneficial not just to the Cebuanos but Boholanos and Negrenses, as well, who pass the road on the way to Cebu City.

  The road project was delayed after an environmentalist group, the Philippine Earth Justice, opposes the cutting of heritage trees that will be affected by the project.

"Just like them I also care about the environment. I am also concerned about the trees. But whether these trees will be cut or not, it is up to the DPWH and DENR to decide on this matter because they have the expertise," said Gullas, who was replaced as first district congressman by his grandson, Gerard Anthony "Samsam" Gullas.

 The former legislator added that he does not have the skills, the education nor the authority to decide whether these trees should be cut or not.

To recall, PEJC condemned the proposed cutting of heritage and fruit-bearing trees which will be affected by the road widening project of Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Naga-Carcar Section.

Isabelo R. Montejo, DENR-7 regional executive director have emphasized that no cutting of trees shall commence until the completion of the assessment and after all the requirements shall have been satisfactorily complied with, taking into consideration the social acceptability issue.

According to DENR-7, a total of  155 trees with an aggregate volume of 192.77 cubic meters of different species will be affected based on the May 11 and 16 , 2013 inventory conducted by a joint team from DPWH and DENR.

The said inventory revealed that 25 are century old acacia trees with a diameter ranging from 92 centimeters to 226 centimeters.  Of the 25 trees, nine were considered to be defective and hazardous.

 The three barangays in Tinaan, Inoburan, and Langtad, all in Naga City have already issued a barangay council resolution and a certification interposing no objection on the tree cutting and earth-balling of trees that may be affected by a road widening project.

Montejo said that replacement of at least 13,800 native and indigenous seedlings should be undertaken first before the actual cutting.

Montejo emphasized that the seven acacia trees (there were supposed to be eight but one tree fell down two months ago which caused a ten-hour traffic) to be cut down are in an advanced stage of decay and could no longer be rehabilitated or applied with tree surgery. /QSB (FREEMAN)