DPWH-7 admits to removing tree

CEBU, Philippines - After almost three weeks of silence, the Department of Public Works and Highway-7 has replied to the query of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 on the illegal uprooting of the dakit tree along M. Velez St. Cebu City.

It admitted removing the tree, but did not say where it is now and if it still alive or is already firewood, like what likely happened to trees in the center island of S. Osmeña Avenue.

The 30-year-old dakit (balete) tree was reportedly uprooted even when all requirements were not complied yet, as what DPWH-7 only had was an earth-balling permit.

In a letter, the DPWH-7 Cebu City District Engineering Office  said  “the Balete Tree, which is among the eight trees requested for cutting/earth-balling, already poses hazard to vehicular traffic and passing sight for vehicles were already obstructed in as much as it was located at the approaches of M. Velez Bridge.”

“The situation has pushed the Project Engineer aggressively to direct the contractor to immediately earth-ball the Balete Tree... he advertently overlooked to relay and/or inform the office of the DENR-7; instead, (only) the office of the Parks and Playground Commission   was informed verbally,” it added.

The road widening project along M. Velez St. is being implemented by JJ&J Construction and General Merchandise.

Reacting to the communication, DENR-7 Information Officer Eddie Llamedo said the fact still remains that the tree was uprooted even before the issuance of a special tree cutting or earth-balling permit by DENR-7 and a certification by Capitol Site Barangay Captain Manuel Guanzon.

Llamedo said DENR-7 received the certification from Guanzon last May 16.

“In fact, the Guanzon certification only allowed earth-balling or balling-out and not cutting.  Also, Guanzon did not indicate in his certification that the Balete obstructs traffic and thus recommended for cutting,” he said, adding that what DPWH-7 did was a clear violation of the law.

Llamedo said DENR-7 would pursue charges against DPWH and JJ&J officials who ordered the cutting of the tree.

“Our legal division is now building  up a case to be filed maybe next week,” he said.

Llamedo said it is their office and not the Cebu City PPC that issues the special tree cutting permit or earth-balling permit.  He said DPWH should know the protocol already since it has been seeking these permits from DENR for so long.

It was earlier reported that DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Demetrio L. Ignacio, Jr. released a clearance to issue a tree cutting permit.

Llamedo, however, clarified that what their central office issued was still a clearance and not a permit.

“They should wait until they have been issued a permit,” he said.

Llamedo said they will ask DPWH-7 where is the dakit tree now and how they intend to take care of it.

“If they really intend to earth-ball the Balete, they should have asked or consulted the DENR 7 but they did not coordinate with us because they know that they don’t have yet a permit,” he added.— /RHM (FREEMAN)