Mayor eyes raps vs DENR, pushes to cut acacias

CEBU, Philippines - Those who favor the cutting of century-old acacia trees in southern Cebu have found an ally in Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia and – if his words will continue to hold water – also from mayors from the first, second and third districts.

Garcia said yesterday he and the mayors of the local government units affected by the planned road development project of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the south eye char-ges against the Department of  Environment and Natural Resources for cancelling the special tree cutting permit.

“If we look at the Province of Cebu, we have enjoyed the progress. The most important is sustainable environment. We can plant trees in other places to replace the trees that are being cut,” he told reporters.

He contended: “Di na ta moingon nga dautan ang tree unya mangita ta og expert to determine whether matambalan pa ang tree. No, we have to cut those trees. Regardless of masalbar ba ang trees, that is not an argument anymore. Because we have to cut those trees, we have to go ahead with progress.”

He said they will ask for support from the League of Municipalities of the Philippines as they collate petitions before going to court.

For his part, LMP President Democrito Diamante said the league will meet on the third week of this month to discuss the issue and to arrive at a possible stand. He said he will just wait for an endorsement before commenting on Garcia’s plan.

The operation in Naga City was halted after DENR Secretary Ramon Paje recalled the permit to cut the acacia trees following continued protest of environmentalists. Fr. Robert Reyes, one of those leading the protest, even climbed one of the trees to make their opposition known.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said he wants the environmental groups who protested to be in the city during rainy days.

“I am praying nga silang Fr. (Robert) Reyes ug ubang mga environmentalist nga moanhi gyud sa amoa ubos sa mga kahoy during rainy days aron makahibaw sila nga delikado gyud,” he told The Freeman.

Chiong said he is supporting the move to cut the trees because the trees found to be defective pose a danger to his constituents.

“Delikado man gyud kaayo unya kanang mga nagprotesta, dili mana taga dinhi,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said that he respects the decision of DENR in recalling the cutting permit.

“Duna man sad guy nagpaapekto sa taga DENR sa mga environmentalists. Nituo man unta gyud mi sa ilang unang assessment nga delikado gyud ning mga kahoya,” he added.

Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura said they will just wait for a reassessment on the trees in his city but will support a decision to cut those trees that will be found hazardous. 

“Law abiding citizens man gyud ta, so maghuwat lang mi sa assessment nila kay sila man gyud ang nakahibawo sa tanan,” he said.

“Kun delikado gyud, atong ipa-cut kay gusto ko nga unahon gyud ang safety sa atong constituents,” he said.

Consult

Gloria Ramos, who is formerly with the Philippine Earth Justice Center, said there should be public consultation and not just closed door sessions with the government agencies on the tree cutting operations.

Ramos said that the public needs to know the real score – that is, how the assessment was conducted.

“Hundred of trees, that is a lot of trees. Do they happen to be sick because of a road project? That is a valid question to be asked and we need to know unsa may tinuod nga health sa kahoy,” she said.

She said the trees are everybody’s concern.

“We are facing Climate Change and we need to strengthen the resiliency of the ecosystem, just like people. But, it is not consistent with the programs of the government meant to put in place and integrate sustainability whether in Cebu or anywhere else,” she said.

New Directive

Yesterday, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje issued a memorandum, which says that DPWH’s recent move to withdraw the road widening project in Naga City provides an opportunity for government “to take a second or even a third look on the feasibility of all road widening projects nationwide.”

Aside from this, it also shows that road widening projects must first be vetted by the DPWH secretary prior to the approval of the Environmental Compliance Certificate and tree cutting permits.

He directed all regional directors of DENR and the Environment Management Bureau to:

1) Return to DPWH all applications for ECC and tree cutting permits for road widening projects and require the following an in-depth review of the feasibility of the road widening project, taking into consideration the possible options, including realignment and road improvements (similar to what will be implemented in Cebu), thus avoiding tree cutting and a comprehensive consultation with all concerned local government units, civil society organizations and communities/stakeholders;

2) Require the concerned DPWH regional directors/district engineers to course through all their applications for tree cutting to the DPWH secretary for vetting, as only tree cutting applications endorsed by the DPWH secretary will be accepted and acted upon by DENR; and  

3) Submit to this office (office of the secretary) a copy of your communications to the concerned DPWH regional/district office within five days from receipt of this instruction. — /JMO (FREEMAN)