Defending trees almost cost DPWH-7 employee his job

Were they fired or about to get axed?

Protecting trees got two employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways in hot water.

Fr. Robert Reyes had to intercede for two job order workers of the DPWH 7 office in Cebu who were identified as supporters of the campaign to save roadside trees in south Cebu.

Chad Bacolod, a residdent of Naga City and a 10-year employee of the DPWH-7, feared that he and his brother Dave were fired from their jobs after his attention was called by a supervisor on Thursday noon.

Chad, who has been posting messages of support for environment advocates in his Facebook account, told Cebu Daily News he was called into the office by his immediate superior on Aug. 7 and told “Wala na ka. Undang na ka (You’re no more. You’re finished).”

When Chad asked if this was just a temporary stoppage, he was told “Wala na ko kahibaw, dong.” (I don’t know, kid.)

There was no written notice of termination just a verbal statement.

Once Fr. Reyes, convenor of the National Coalition to Save Heritage Trees, learned of the threat through mutual friends, he texted Public Works Secreatry Rogelio Singson on Monday to “please look into a serious case of illegal termination of two DPWH workers who joined us in the (Sunday) run to save heritage trees.”

“I hope these two men will not be punished for something that is not a crime… protecting and saving heritage trees.”

On Monday, the two brothers were told to report back to work.

DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas denied anyone was fired for advocating the cause of saving trees.

“There’s no truth to that. I am the sole authority to fire workers. Nobody has been fired, including job order workers,” he told CDN.

“If they’re claiming that they were fired, maybe they just didn’t report for work,” he said.

Chad’s work contract, renewed every three months, expires in Septemer yet. He works as a team leader who issues Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) to road violators.

The 34-year-old worker said he went home to his family feeling down after his unexpected conversation with his superior Engineer Elvis Calunod, chief of the the maintenance section.

His 34-year-old brother Dave was not with him during the office encounter. Chad said he suspected he was being fired because of his vocal position on the controversy over trees and that his Facebook posts were monitored.

He described himself as an outdoor enthusiast and concerned citizen of Naga, but not a mountaineer or an activist.

He joined last Sunday’s solidarity “run walk and bike” activity from Naga to Carcar spearheaded by mountaineering groups and Fr. Reyes.

“I’m a son of Naga. I’m giving back what the trees have given me since birth. It is the least I can do for the trees and the people around me in my lifetime and the generation that follows,” Chad wrote in his Facebook post.

Last Aug. 5, Fr. Reyes flew to Cebu and climbed a century-old Acacia tree to unfurl a protest banner, appealing to the public to show love through “care and cure of the old and sick, whether person on tree” as DPWH workers went about cutting the first of four trees.

“I watched from afar. I didn’t come near Fr. Reyes out of respect for the other DPWH workers,” said Chad.

Two days after, two mountaineers, including a Naga resident climbed atop two of the remaining trees to protest the cutting.

Chad didn’t report to work yesterday but said he was called by Calunod and told that he and his brother can report back to work today.

“Iya mi gisultian nga dili man na sayop among gibuhat basta dili lang unta pud namo i-public kaayo among advocacy labi na sa (He told me that I didn’t do anything wrong, just that I shouldn’t make my advocacy public in) Facebook,” Bacolod said.

Chad questioned why his brother Dave was dragged when he wasn’t involved in the solidarity run or the protest activities. For his own part, Chad said he joined Sunday’s solidarity run but didn’t tie a white ribbon on any tree.

Despite the pressure, Chad said he will continue his advocacy to protect the trees. He also emphasized that he still has respect for his DPWH superiors and government officials.

Read all about the Naga Trees issues here!