DENR survey: 41 roadside trees in San Fernando pose hazard

At least 41 trees along the national road in the southern town of San Fernando will have to go.

Too weak, injured or decaying near the roots, they pose a hazard to passing motorists and the public, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.

The agency gave an initial report of its survey of a five-kilometer road section which has at least 141 trees.

Three of the 41 to be cut down are century-old Acacia or rain trees.

“We urge the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government of San Fernando town to pursue the cutting of these trees with our personnel as they were found out to be defective or diseased,” said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo in a press statement.

The inventory was ordered after a nearly century-old Acacia tree by the road in barangay Balud fell on a truck and caused major traffic congestion in the southern town last July 9.

No special tree cutting permit is needed as long as the agency coordinates with the DENR on the cutting.

A wider inventory and assessment is being made by a DENR team of potentially hazardous trees within Metro Cebu.

Trees get injured and weaken due to destructive practices like nailing streamers and other advertising materials on trees and burning leaves or garbage near the base, Montejo said.

Of the 141 trees identified in San Fernando town, 41 need to be cut or removed due to advanced decay in their trunks and base near the root system.

“Most of the trees have deep nails embedded in their trunks which hastens the tree to have contact with diseases which is one of the reasons we have defective trees along the roads,” Montejo said.

Montejo earlier gave the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cebu City until July 16 to check the health and status of the trees along the South Cebu road after the July 9 incident.

At least 141 trees were assessed, mostly Acacia, Chico, Mahogany, Gmelina, Bagalunga, Binunga, Narra, Molave, Talisay, Calachuchi, Dita and Indian trees.

The trees are located along the road in barangays Pitalo, South Poblacion, Luknay, Panadtaran and Balud.

Montejo urged barangays to keep a close watch of their trees and practice correct pruning.

Last July 11, Montejo formed a 12-member team to conduct an inventory and assessment of hazardous trees within Metro Cebu.

The team led by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Jose Cleo Cary Colis has representatives from the local government, NOGs, environmental lawyers, religious sector, and the media.

The team will assess trees especially those found in parks and roadsides.

They will recommend which trees need to be rehabilitated to restore their beauty and ecological function, and lengthen its life span.

Montejo said the survey will also determine which trees are over-mature, diseased or defective, which pose safety hazads.

“Sanitary cutting” could be done immediately or tree surgery.
Two national laws prohibit the indiscriminate cutting or destroying of trees.

One aims to preserve trees, shrubs and plants “of scenic value along public roads, parks other than national parks, school premises or in any other public ground” under Section 3 of Republic Act number 3571.

Presidential Decree number 953 punishes the offender with six months to two years imprisonment, or a P500 to P5,000 fine or both.

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