Gov dared to take stand on tree-cutting

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco has dared Gov. Amado Espino Jr. to express his stand on the cutting of trees along the Manila North Road.

In a press conference held last Wednesday, Cojuangco said the governor’s silence on the issue baffled him.

“If he really believes this is wrong, he should speak out, so I can answer him,” Cojuangco said.

The area traversed by the Manila road includes Cojuangco’s turf, where his wife Kimi is the incumbent representative.

He said the provincial government did not complain when more than 3,000 trees were cut in Mangatarem town for a road project.

Cojuangco deplored an agreement signed by provincial administrator Rafael Baraan and representatives from the public works and environment departments and two others from a non-government organization.

The agreement reportedly gave an assurance that there would be no more cutting of trees along the Manila North Road.