Firm to face raps for cutting trees in protected area
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7) held a contractor accountable for illegally cutting 54 trees in sitio Camp 2, barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City.
DENR-7 information officer Eddie Llamedo said QM Builders, which was contracted for a road-widening project in the area, failed to secure a special tree cutting permit.
He said Mahogany, Gmelina, Kolo, Lanete, Caimito, and Balabog trees with an equivalent volume of 7.99 cubic meters were cut within the timberland area of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) issued a cease-and-desist order to QM Builders proprietor and manager Allan Quirante last July 8.
Llamedo said QM Builders also failed to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and didn’t seek permission from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
He said they are preparing to file charges against the contractor by Thursday next week.
Llamedo said the incident should serve as a reminder to contractors and local government units (LGUs) not to be negligent in the handling of trees for their reclamation and road widening projects.
“The incident serves as a lesson to companies notto cut trees even when it is within a private lot, titled lot or even when you own the lot. It’s no guarantee that you are allowed to cut trees indiscriminately,” Llamedo said.
He said a person is only allowed to cut less than 10 trees within a private plantation provided that the lot owner is a holder of a certificate of tree plantation.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
