2 weeks moratorium on tree cutting agreed

CEBU, Philippines — After public outcry on the plan to cut trees along the national highway in the cities of Naga and Carcar, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and the two local government units involved have agreed to conduct a reassessment.

For two weeks, no cutting of trees will be done but an ocular inspection to check the conditions of the trees.

Garcia met with Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong, Carcar Mayor Mercy Apura and representatives from the DENR and DPWH to discuss the future of the 32 affected trees.

According to Garcia, they agreed to reassess the state of the trees to be cut and to conduct an ocular inspection of the roads.

The moratorium will give the two local chief executives and the other concerned officials time to conduct the inspections. They will then reconvene with Garcia after the reassessment period.

"We arrived at a consensus that in the following two weeks there will be a reassessment and ocular inspection of all the trees marked for cutting," Garcia said.

She added that long the considerations would be the conditions of the trees that line the roads.

"Kung healthy pa ba gyud na or nagbarog na lang na or it is already rotting inside, posing further risk and hazard," she explained.

Another factor to be considered, according to the governor, is the placement of trees. She elaborated that some trees stand on the carriage way of the roads while some stand on the actual sidewalks and outside of sidewalks.

"Kay kung tua na outside of the sidewalk and for as long as it does not interfere with the drainage, I believe-- as what was already arrived upon in consensus, nga they will be spared," she assured.

As for the trees actually obstructing the road, Garcia said they will still discuss the further actions during their next meeting.

Garcia also assured that the iconic trees forming a canopy along the roads of Carcar will be spared for now as there has not been a permit released yet for their cutting.

"There is no such budget permit yet nga na-issue because for the year 2020 na budget, wala pa masulod and concreting and widening ana nga section," she said.  FPL (FREEMAN)