The League of Municipalities (LMP) Cebu chapter was set to pass a resolution last night urging Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to allow the cutting of decayed trees so that road widening projects can continue in the south.
League president Democrito Diamante, mayor of midwest Tuburan town, said “trees should not be a hindrance to development.”
“Anyway, we can plant trees anywhere. How will we catch up with the rest of Cebu when we can’t move forward with all these trees getting in the way?” Diamante said in a press conference.
Diamante said most, if not all, mayors in Cebu agreed on the need to remove trees that pose danger to public safety.
He said local governments would be held liable if more “diseased or defective” trees fall on the road.
Last month, two century-old Acacia trees suddenly fell on a passing truck in San Fernando town and collapsed on the road in barangay Perrelos, Carcar City.
Plans to cut down 88 trees tagged by the DENR 7 as “diseased and defective” in the south corridor of Naga-Carcar-San Fernando were aborted after Secretary Paje withdrew all tree-cutting permits following a lobby by environment activists in Manila and Cebu.
Fr. Robert Reyes climbed an Acacia tree in the City of Naga on Aug. 5 to unfurl a protest banner and led the tying of white ribbons around tree trunks.
The next day, the DPWH Secretary ordered his men to stop cutting the trees.
Two local mountaineers followed suit in Naga, forcing government crew to put down their chainsaws after cutting four other Acacias.
Diamante said the LMP supports the plan of Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia to file a class suit against the DENR.
The league held its general assembly yesterday afternoon at the Grand Convention Center in Cebu City. At 7 p.m. the plenary session had not yet started.
Read more about the Naga Trees Issues here!