Archbishop urged to join cause to save Cebu trees

In keeping with his monicker as “the running priest,” Fr. Robert Reyes showed his athletic side and ran through the main streets of uptown Cebu City yesterday morning to drumbeat his appeal to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma to help save “sick” trees along the South Cebu Highway.

Reyes, accompanied by four Cebuano mountaineers, brought with them three Narra saplings and placards that read: “Thou shall not kill.” “Life is sacred.” “Save the Naga, San Fernando, and Carcar Heritage Trees.”

Reyes’ group left the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds at 6:30 a.m. and finished the 2.5-kilometer run to the Archbishop’s residence on D. Jakosalem Street in 30 minutes. But Palma was not home to greet them.

Instead, the group was met by Fr. Mhar Balili, the archbishop’s secretary, who said Palma was in Virac, Catanduanes to attend the 40th anniversary celebration of the diocese.

Reyes, a Franciscan priest and chairman of the National Coalition to Save the Trees, gave Balili three Narra saplings which he named the “Archbishop Jose Palma Trees”

“I dedicate these saplings to him (Palma). This is a symbolic appeal to him: Bishop, the Church instead of cutting tree should plant; instead of killing should protect life,” he said.

“I’ll plant these saplings in Naga (south Cebu). And I hope Archbishop Palma can visit these trees soon. If the Church fought so valiantly against the culture of death through contraceptives, shouldn’t we have similar passion against the cutting and murder of Cebu’s heritage trees?” Reyes said before asking Balili to bless the seedlings.

He also handed over a letter addressed to Palma, requesting the archbishop to save all trees in south Cebu.

“I plead with you dear bishop to appeal for a moratorium on the killing and murder of trees. The absence of respect and love for nature is spreading nationwide. We must constantly exercise vigilance against the various threats to nature,” the letter added.

Palma earlier announced his support for government plans to cut at least 88 “diseased and defective” trees along the South Cebu Highway affected by a road-widening project after two century-old Acacias fell without warning in Carcar and San Fernando last month.

But Reyes said he believes that Palma was just misquoted or misunderstood.

“I’m definitely sure that he’s not for the cutting of trees. He’s just for the pruning of hazardous branches and for cutting of dead trees,” he said.

Reyes also appealed to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III who also favors the cutting of “sick” trees as recommended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“I’m not here to stage war. I’m not here to stir controversy. I’m for peace. I’m here to bring people to the table of dialogue. I just can’t understand why the local government would not protect the heritage trees,” Reyes said.

Read all about the Naga Trees issue here!