City Council wants inventory of 3 million trees

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has requested the city’s parks and playgrounds commission to submit a detailed report to the former on the “noble undertaking” of planting three million trees.

In the report, the Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission (CCPPC) must state how many trees were already planted; how many are already growing; and the methods used in the preservation and protection of these trees.

Councilor Nestor Archival, Sr. sponsored a resolution regarding the matter which was approved by the council.

To recall, one of the policy directions of the previous administration under the tutelage of the late mayor Edgardo Labella is the planting of three million trees within a three year period.

Archival said that the undertaking is beneficial to the people of the city considering that this will contribute in the mitigation of global warming, it being one of the most serious issues being faced today.

“The said three-year period has already lapsed, so that it is now incumbent upon the lead agencies to give an update whether or not the said project or undertaking has been successful and complied with,” he said.

The lead offices of the city government that monitor the compliance of the “noble undertaking” are the CCPPC, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), and the City Agriculture Department (CAD).

Archival already made the same request to the CCENRO and CAD.

Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.

Section 458 of the same law provides that the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city, shall enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16. — GMR (FREEMAN)