Assessment of acacia trees back to square 1

CEBU, Philippines - The third-party assessment on the trees in southern Cebu identified for removal after being found by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to be diseased is back to square one.

This, as the DENR-7 and environmental groups have agreed in a conference yesterday to look for another third-party expert, specifically a forest pathologist, a professional who specializes in plant health.

Emma Melana, director of DENR-7’s Ecosystem Research and Development Sector, said the concerned parties will come up with names of experts and the environmental groups will take charge of going through their credentials.

She said they will look for one at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

Louella Alix of Movement for Liveable Cebu said the independent opinion will erase doubts and bias on the credibility of the assessment.

“We should have transparent criteria in choosing pathologist. It should be a neutral party, because if it comes from the same agency, you cannot erase the doubt,” she said during yesterday’s conference at the Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the Capitol compound.

A third-party expert is being sought after DENR-7 did not accept the findings of forestry expert Roger Guzman, executive director of the conservation group Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern, who was invited by the environmentalists to render a third-party appraisal.

DENR officials said their assessment was conducted by two teams in a span of six months and, in comparison, Guzman did his in just two days. DENR assessed that the trees that are already decayed should be removed so as not to pose danger to the public.

“It’s not his (Guzman) expertise. We are standing by our recommendation. Doctor Guzman did not rule out nga they (trees) will not be cut. What he recommended is further study,” said Eduardo Inting, regional technical director of DENR-7’s Forest Management Services.

Guzman, though, admitted in a meeting last Friday that what he did was only a rapid assessment and was not conclusive. He suggested an in-depth appraisal by a forest pathologist.

There are 154 trees affected by a road widening project in the cities of Naga and Carcar and in the town of San Fernando; 88 of which were recommended for removal.

There are 25 acacia trees in Naga that were subjected to scrutiny or physical evaluation.  Of the 25, four were cut down last August 5.

In his findings and recommendations, Guzman said that while the trees earmarked to be removed were indeed diseased, administering remedies and silvicultural treatment operations should be the course to take rather than cutting them down immediately.

DENR did not recommend tree surgery for trees with defect of 50 centimeters in diameter.

“If we apply for tree surgery, healing is very low when trees are very old.  It cannot compensate really. It is approaching it maximum life which is 80 to 100 year,” Melana said.

Concerned partied vowed to find the expert within the week and accept whatever the expert recommends.

“We have no disagreement. As soon as the pathologists say that you are correct with your findings, hands down kami,” said Cherry Piquero-Ballescas also of MLC.

Road Project

Former congressman Eduardo Gullas, the father of the road widening project, yesterday stressed the importance of completing the project in southern Cebu.

“Not only will Cebuanos benefit from this but also Boholanos and Negrenses. It is the only arterial road to and from south. Traffic there is very heavy,” Gullas told The Freeman.

Argao town via Barangay Taloot port is an access point to Loon in Bohol. Meanwhile, Barangay Bato in Samboan town receives travelers from San Carlos City and Guihulngan town in Negros.

A manifesto on the matter is set to be signed by local chief executives from southern Cebu. Gullas said he will bring the manifesto to Manila during his meeting with Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson.

“I called up Secretary (Ramon) Paje. He said he is recalling the special tree cutting permit because of the decision of DPWH Secretary Singson to discontinue the widening from two to four lane at Natalio Bacalso Avenue from Naga City to Carcar City. So he advised me to talk to Singson,” he said.

Gullas lauded Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma for supporting the cutting of trees at the roadside diagnosed by DENR as diseased and hazardous.

“Who does not love trees? We all love trees. But this is a matter of public safety,” Gullas said.

He added that he did not “put his weight to the issue” as the two agencies, DPWH and DENR, are mandated to settle the matter. – (FREEMAN)