Trees Stay: DENR-7 accepts expert’s findings

Cut the overhanging branches in this spot, says tree pathologist Dr. Ernesto Militante who gave his recommendations on how to strengthen 3 remaining century-old Acacia trees in Naga. The red line is where the tree needs pruning. (Photo by Dr. Ernestp Militante)

Tree conservationists win.

The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) yesterday accepted the findings and recommendation of a retired tree pathologist to have  three remaining century-old Acacia trees in the City of Naga pruned instead of cut.

But one question remains: who will shoulder the cost?

Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said the DENR-7 has no funds set aside for these procedures.

“We really can’t do this because our budget has  priorities. It has been programmed for 2014. We can’t just get P1 million and use  it for tree surgery or pruning projects,” he told reporters after an exit conference where pathologist Dr. Ernesto Militante presented his report.

Rehabilitation costs around P800 to P900 per tree or almost P15,000 per square meter while tree assessment alone may cost P2,500 to P3,500.

Montejo suggested that the Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC), one of the groups strongly advocating the preservation of the heritage trees, could raise the  funds for this.

Montejo said he decided to adopt the patholgists’  measures because he saw the need for it and that it was no longer in conflict with the concern for road widening of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Last August, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson stopped tree cutting in the road widening project in southern Cebu and ordered his director to look for alternatives to avoid sacrificing the trees   while DENR Secretary Ramon Paje suspended all tree cutting permits in road projects nationwide.

The pathologist who examined the Naga trees on Thursday  said the trees had roots deeply anchored underground and needed immediate pruning of top-heavy branches leaning toward the road.
“Walang kahoy na mabubuwal kapag hindi mabigat ang sanga, kahit pa malakas ang hangin,” said Militante.

During the exit conference , he also recommended  the immediate removal of concrete around the base of all affected trees at about 30 centimeters from the trunk to prevent “strangling” and improve aeration.

Militante said  these  procedures should be done “as soon as possible.”

Montejo said that he accepted the recommendations of the pathologist this time around because of technical information and concrete suggestions, as opposed to that of the last tree expert, Dr. Roger Guzman, who only said the “trees are healthy” and that they “don’t need to be chopped.”

He also said that he is open to the idea of preserving all roadside trees along the national highway in the south for as long as all other sectors are committed in pooling resources and funds.

“It should be a joint endeavor among the local government units, the agency, as well as civil society,” he said.

Tree pathologist Dr. Ernesto Militante (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Baltazar Tribunalo, head of the province’s disaster office,  said the Cebu provincial government is ready to provide  equipment for the  operations.

“We have lots of resources. It’s only a matter of meeting and coordination,” he said.

He said that boom trucks from private contractors, dump trucks and chainsaws are available.

He said he will set a meeting next week with Gov. Hilario Davide III,  and  mayors of affected LGUs, and DENR officials to discuss who will conduct pruning  and mobilization of equipment and funding, among other things.

Parties also have to discuss the possibility of San Fernando and Carcar applying for pruning permits which the DENR will issue.

The MLC, in a statement, said it stands by the assessment and recommendations of Dr. Roger Guzman and Dr. Militante “that the trees can and must be saved”

Alongside the Inter-Mountaineering Society, the National Coalition to Save the Trees, the MLC said the  issue has thoroughly been discussed and analyzed by many leading to only  two alternatives – either save the trees or save lives.

“But is there no other way? Can we

not have both? Yes indeed, we can!”

After the exit conference at the DENR, parties talked about the “creative possibility of planning an additional road which allows keeping the trees and increasing access to the fast growing cities and municipalities of the Southern part of Cebu. We commend the persons who at that point decided to dialogue instead of argue, and thus quickly facilitated the emergence of creative solutions around a dilemma.

MLC announced that a  forthcoming Tree Summit is being  organized by the Supreme Student Council of the University of San Carlos.
The public is invited.

“If we can rise above this situation, if we can cross party lines, if we can dispense with our pervious biases, then we can all unite to formulate a solution for the common good.
Let us do it for the good of Cebu.”

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