11 TREES NEED TO GO

Young Narra trees to be earthballed for mall project

About 11 Narra trees, some as young as two years old, will have to be earthballed to allow construction

of the entrances and exits of a mall in Cebu City.
The contractor of Robinsons Galleria Cebu, which is scheduled to have a soft opening on Oct. 21, is

finishing the documentary requirements set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR) 7 to earthball 11 Narra trees along the perimeter of the mall site in barangay Tejero.
As of yesterday, the contractor has complied with the requirement to produce a barangay resolution

interposing no objection to the earthballing of the trees.
The Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission has also endorsed the plan.
DISMAYED
Louella Alix, a co-convenor of the Movement for a Livable Cebu, was dismayed by the plan.
She said the mall’s engineers, architects and planners should have taken into consideration the

presence of the Narra trees in their works.
“It is a sad commentary on how we plan our buildings. The architect could have designed the ingress and

egress of the building without touching the trees. Maybe the offices in charge of giving building

permits should be aware of this matter,” she said.
“We seem to have a cavalier way of taking care of our trees; they can be moved or removed according to

the whims of builders,” she said.
Alix said it was the first time that she’s heard of the plan.
But she said there are requirements to be followed for the removal of the trees, the most important of

which is the final earthballing permit from the DENR.
NO OBJECTION
The Tejero barangay council, in a resolution dated September 7, interposed no objection to the transfer

of the trees located in the perimeter of the mall along S. Osmeña Boulevard, General Maxilom Ave.

Extension and Benedicto Street.
“This body firmly believes that if ever the project will be undertaken and completed, there will be job

opportunities and employment in our community/barangay for our constituents and the area will also

beautify, hence most advantageous to the people of Tejero and the City Government of Cebu,” the

barangay council resolution read.
Manolito Briones, who heads the PPC’s earthballing section, said the contractor will hold a public

hearing with stakeholders to get their opinions on the plan.
“All of these 11 trees are Narra trees, still young, probably around two years old. Their trunks’

height is around two meters, not including the canopy yet,” Briones said.
He said based on their initial talks with the contractor, the trees will just be transferred within the

area.
The transfer will open part of the perimeter for the entrances and exits of the mall.
Contractor Constech Management Group, Inc. earlier wrote a letter to Tejero barangay chairperson

Jessilou Cadungog, seeking a barangay certification of no objection to the plan to relocate the trees

that obstruct the proposed entrance and exit to and from the property.
The letter was written by project architect Jaypee Allego and noted by area manager Manny Mendoza.
SITE INSPECTION
They said they already coordinated with the Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission (PPC), Cebu City

Environment and Natural Resources (CCENRO) and the Cebu City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
They conducted a joint site inspection last August 28.
Tejero barangay councilman Garry Lao said a representative from the Robinsons’ security operations head

paid a courtesy call to them at their barangay hall last week.
He said they expressed concern on the presence of vendors around the construction site since work is

ongoing and there are heavy equipment going in and out of the construction site.
They also requested the assistance of barangay tanods to patrol the area for added security which the

barangay officials agreed to provide.
“The barangay will send a letter to the management of Robinsons. We will request them to give priority

to barangay Tejero residents for employment opportunities in the mall. They should also help in

cleaning up the Tejero Creek,” Lao said.
Lao said he was told that the mall is expected to have the soft opening first of its grocery section on

October 21.