Permit to cut trees available online

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR 7) has initiated an online application for the issuance of permit to cut trees.

DENR 7 Enforcement Division Chief Ariel Rica said the online process will reduce the week-long manual process into two days.

Rica said the online permit system is still on its trial period this week.

Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief Nolito Lapinig said that in the manual system, three requirements are required before one can be granted a permit.

“First is the certificate fee of P50. Second is the barangay certification. Third is a public hearing if more than ten trees will be cut,” he said.

Lapinig said the requirements will then be submitted to CENRO, which will then endorse the request to the DENR 7.

Lapinig said the DENR regional director will have to evaluate the request before CENRO will issue a permit.

“The DENR is striving for a paperless system,” Rica said.

Rica also said that there has been a decrease of violators of Executive Order 23 this year. Under EO 23, no individual shall be granted a permit to cut trees on government lots.

He said the DENR will only allow harvest of forest products on titled land if there is a permit.

Lapinig said cases of illegal tree cutting this year has decreased to 26 from 37 last year. This is due to the strict implementation of EO 23, he said.

Rica said that Cebu City has the highest number of violators in the region.

Lapinig said violators of EO 23 will be fined based on the value of forest products. “The penalty for this (EO 23) is similar to the penalty for qualified theft,” he said.