The Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) said there’s no need to apply for a special cutting permit to remove 42 trees in Naga City, southern Cebu, particularly seven century-old Acacias.
“Why do we need to apply for the cutting permit? The (road-widening) project we had in Naga is already done and we were able to redesign it to save those trees,” DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas told Cebu Daily News.
Canlas referred to a special tree cutting permit for the Naga-Carcar City road-widening project that expired this year after the DPWH failed to submit requirements asked by the DENR.
These include proof of genuine public consultation, an implementation plan and the location of where trees will be earth-balled, among others.
The DENR earlier opposed the cutting down of trees, including century-old Acacias affected by the Naga-Carcar City road widening project pending a full inventory.
Assessment
Canlas, who just came from a leave in Manila, said they are willing to coordinate with Naga City on this.
No DPWH official attended the consultation meeting held by the DENR with Naga City and environment officials and the Philippine Earth Justice Center.
DENR already identified 42 defective trees including seven century-old Acacia trees to be removed in Naga.
“Our basis for assessment is branch and trunk decay, overlapping branches, insect pest and parasite plants. Others also include embedded nails and improperly prune and maintenance,”
CENRO officer Filemon Embalzado Jr. said.
Both the CENRO and City of Naga officials target to cut them down by the end of the month.
Resolution
DENR-7 spokesman Eddie Llamedo said the Naga recommendation was different from thesituation in the next town San Fernando, where the DENR last week finished a partial inventory of 141 trees and identified 41 along the national road that are sickly, weak or unstable, and have to be cut down.
He said the San Fernando municipal government has to pass a resolution to certify that there’s no objection on their part to cut down the trees.
The century-old trees are spread through barangays Pitalo, San Isidro, South Poblacion, Luknay, Panadtaran, Balud and San Fernando.
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