The government project contractor QM Builders allegedly cut mahogany, gmelina and ficus trees to make way for a DPWH road project in Talisay City. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
AT LEAST 54 trees in sitio Camp 2, Talisay City were cut to pave the way for the construction of Talisay-Uling access road.
A stop order signed by Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer was issued last July 9 to the contractor, QM Builders, which had no tree-cutting permit from the environment department
DENR 7 Regional Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said the project was considered an environmentally critical project (ECP) as it is within a Protected Area. He said the project must be approved by the Protected Area Management Board before its operation.
The project site is part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape.
“We really need to strike a balance by taking into account very seriously the economic development while not compromising the environment,” he added.
CENRO Cebu City Acting Chief Raul Pasoc said that based on their inspection in the area, 54 trees including mahogany, gmelina and ficus were cut down.
Another 53 trees of mahogany, gmelina, kolo, lanete, caimito and balabog may be affected during the road widening project contracted to QM Builders by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
A ground inspection was conducted last July 2 by forest ranger and foresters Arnold Omandam and Lucio Cañete Jr. after receiving a report from a resident in the barangay.
According to Pasoc, the contractor started cutting the trees without securing a permit from DENR.
The DENR-7’s Licensing, Permitting and Deeds Division confirmed that no tree cutting permit nor other permits or licenses were issued for the project.
The legal division has prepared judicial affidavits for the filing of a case against QM Builders before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Sections 77 and 78 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines states that cutting trees without permits is unlawful.
Violators according to DENR may be fined not less than P500 to P20,000 and imprisoned for not less than six (6) months to two (2) years for each offense.
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