CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways-7 has granted the request of the riding public to conduct the cutting of century-old acacia trees at nighttime and not during the day when the activity results to closure of the national highway in Naga City, forcing the commuters to walk a certain distance.
For the past two days, the DPWH has started cutting the trees at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Today, the cutting of the trees will resume by 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. in barangays Langtad and Inuburan in Naga City where two more acacia trees will be cut and one more will be pruned.
With this, DPWH advised commuters going to and from the southern part of Cebu to pass the said areas before 9 p.m., before the road will be closed.
Second District Engineer Nicomedes Leonor gave an immediate feedback on the concern raised during a press conference yesterday at the Tinaan Barangay Hall after commuters asked for the operations to be moved to nighttime which was later on approved by DPWH regional director Ador Canlas.
“We already prepared the needed equipment for a nighttime work especially for the lighting for the convenience of our workers,” said Leonor.
The change of schedule was supposed to start last night but the city government of Naga requested for a break for its workers and for it to also asses the capability of its equipment after discovering that some were damaged during the two-day operations.
“We very much agree and like the idea of changing the time of operations but we want to make sure that our equipment could still function,” said City Councilor Carmelino Cruz, Jr.
Further, Barangay Captain Teodoro Cantal, Jr. of Tinaan said that even though the operations today will be in a different barangay, he and his workers will still extend their service.
Police Superintendent Brindo Nacario, Naga City Police Station chief, also assured that they will help carry out the said change of schedule.
Two acacia trees were cut down yesterday at Barangay Tinaan while another two in Barangay Inuburan and one more in Barangay Langtad will be cut tonight.
DENR-7 intends to tap the assistance of Visayas Electric Company, specifically for one tree which will be cut today since it is near power lines.
Meanwhile, the Movement for a Livable Cebu has issued a statement on the unfortunate fate of the heritage trees.
“We find it unusual that trees become ‘deceased’ all at the same time unless there is a common cause. The only thing obvious to us are the roots cut at the base of the trees during road widening. We are saddened that until now no tree expert has come forward or had been consulted by the concerned government agencies. MLC strongly urges that the trees from San Fernando to Carcar be spared until a certified tree expert is consulted regarding their condition,” read the MLC statement. —(FREEMAN)