CENRO stops cutting of mango trees

CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has ordered the mango-tree cutting in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City stopped due to lack of permit.

“You are advised to refrain from undertaking any action relative to the transport, hauling and movement of the subject undocumented forest product in question,” said a portion of the letter sent to Zoraida Aznar, owner of the property where the 38 (not 50 as earlier reported) mango trees were cut.

In the same letter dated October 23, CENRO head Forester Raul Pasoc said the cutting activities were “bereft of any authority” from his office, “a clear violation of Section 2 (a) of DAO No. 97-32…which clearly provides any forest products removed, cut…without corresponding authorization…shall be subjected to apprehension, seizure, confiscation and forfeiture….in relation to Section 77 of PD No. 705 (Revised Forestry Code).”

The letter stemmed from the tree-cutting activities in Aznar’s property in Mandaue last week, wherein 30 mango trees were already chopped to pieces.

The 38 logs believed to be worth P127,200, as pegged by CENRO, are now in the custody of the said office.

Pasoc also ordered Aznar to “justify” the cutting of trees within the next five days.

Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources officer Placido Jerusalem, in an interview with The Freeman, said the property was reportedly leased to LTH Corp., which will reportedly use it for its business expansion.

He said CENRO will only release the items in custody if Aznar could produce documents permitting her men to cut the trees. There are reportedly still several standing trees, and Jerusalem said CENRO personnel are monitoring that these are not also cut. (FREEMAN)