Further delays in dealing with roadside trees in south Cebu will jack up the cost of long-delayed road widening of the Carcar-Naga road, said former Cebu congressman Eduardo Gullas.
He welcomed plans for an independent third party opinion to help reach a decision whether to cut down or simply prune the trees, which include several century-old Acacias that were planted in the 1900s.
A joint inventory will be conducted, hopefully by next week, as agreed by national agencies, Gov. Hilario Davide III and civil society groups on Friday.
On Thursday, three eco-activists climbed two century-old Acacias in Naga, forcing government crews to put down their chainsaws, after taking down four of seven Acacia trees in barangay Inoburan.
Gullas lobbbied for the Carcar-Naga road project in his first term in congress in 1992, and continues to follow up its completion through his grandson, Congressman Gerald Anthony, who took over the 1st district seat.
Gullas yesterday said that while he respects the decision to suspend the cutting of trees, any delays in cutting them would further delay the project and raise costs of finishing it.
“Many say that no matter what the development is, it should not be superior to what is historical, what is beautiful, etc. But there are others who think that with Acacia trees, there’s a formula. For every tree that you cut, you have to plant 100,” said Gullas.
Gullas said he wants to see the Carcar-Naga City road widened to encourage investors to go to the south to benefit 20 municipailties and cities, instead of just concentrating in Metro Cebu.
The road is the only arterial road in southern Cebu used not just by Cebuanos, but by Boholanos and Negros residents, he said.
It took 11 years for the earlier phase of widening two lanes to four lanes from Talisay City to Naga City on Gullas initiative which saw completition in 2003.
Cutting down sick and damaged trees would ensure the safety of occupants in the area, Gullas said.
Rehabilitation
“We suggest a third party who is an authority on deceased trees to do an independent investigation and study the remaining deceased trees in Naga City, in San Fernando town and in Carcar City,” he said.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier authorized the cutting of trees in the south but withdrew the orders on Friday.
The Aug. 6 marginal note of DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to Ador Canlas, his director in Cebu: “Let’s not cut trees anymore for widening” stopped the chainsaw in Naga City — for now.
Gullas said he would commit to have trees replanted on both sides of the four-lane road just to get the project done.
He said teachers, students and members of the Alumni Association at their family owned school, the University of the Visayas, would provide the labor while the seedlings can be provided by DENR.
Any more delays, Gullas said, would only raise the cost of the project.
For Cebu South
“Investors won’t just stop in Naga but they will go to San Fernando, Carcar, Sibonga, and 16 other towns in the South if we have good infrastructure. You know Carcar City is the vortex, going southeast, southwest so if you widen that, investors will have a better opportunity to go south. Not everything will be concentrated in Metro Cebu,” he said.
The road project would widen the 16.8 kilometer stretch of N. Bacalso Avenue from barangay Tinaan in Naga City up to barangay Awayan in Carcar City from a two-lane to a four-lane road.
The P1.025 billion project includes the rehabilitation of six bridges in the area and setting of 37 box culverts on these bridges.
Gullas already managed to secure P236 million for the project from the national government from 2011 to 2014.
Former Cebu City south district congressman Tomas Osmeña also gave P400 million of his pork barrel to Gullas’ district for the road.
Gullas said his grandson and now Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district would secure the balance of P375 million.
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