Court asked to protect 21 ‘saved’ Naga trees

Parties opposed to the cutting of 58 trees in a lot being developed into an international standard athletic field in Naga City are elevating the issue directly to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

This was confirmed by Winley Dela Fuente, president of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of Naga Central School yesterday morning.

Dela Fuente also confirmed that Canton will attend a summary hearing today after their Temporary Environment Protection Order (TEPO) was granted last week.

Since 58 trees have been cut they will just ask for the issuance of a permanent protection order of the 21 saved trees. Initially the city government of Naga secured a permit to cut 79 trees, but later on decided to cut only 58 trees.

Others who are attending the dialogue are Rudy Alix of the Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC) and Naga City Councilor Venci Del Mar.

Dela Fuente said he still has to confirm today if running priest Fr. Robert Reyes will also attend the dialogue. “As what we have stated before, we wil question the legalities of the permits issued to the city government of Naga,” he told Cebu Daily News.

The petitioners will also personally deliver the petition letter to remove DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo from his office.

The petition letter was launched last Tuesday before the meeting between Reyes and Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong, at City Hall.

Their petition stated that Montejo failed to protect the trees by granting the tree cutting permits without exercising due diligence.

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