BACOLOD City – Environment advocates held a silent protest along the sidewalk of the Old Airport in Barangay Singcang-Airport here.
Twenty-six trees of various species had been felled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of its P32-million “improvement project” along Araneta Avenue.
Rhoderick Samonte, director of External Affairs of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College who participated in the protest, also took to social media and wrote: “A silent protest, a loud voice on behalf of the fallen trees whose value is priceless. Without trees, none of us will live.”
In the place of the felled trees the protesters placed placards bearing statements of remorse and condemnation – “We mourn the death of our trees”, “Trees murdered by DPWH and DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources)”, “Your job is to defend, not destroy the environment”, among others.
Last month, the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) based in Bago City, Negros Occidental issued a tree cutting permit to DPWH-Bacolod upon the request of DPWH district engineer Jaime Javellana.
The CENRO allowed the felling of 35 trees – 15 molave, 12 narra, seven mahogany, and one eucalyptus.
The DPWH halted the cutting of the trees following the public uproar.
Rep. Greg Gasataya wrote Javellana on April 13 demanding an explanation why such action was undertaken, and to ensure that the remaining trees in the vicinity remain unharmed.
Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an executive order creating a joint committee to investigate the incident.
“What’s most important now is we must make sure similar incidents won’t happen again,” the mayor said.
On the other hand, Father Chris Gonzales of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod asked the city council here to pass a resolution calling for a stop to the cutting of the trees in the city.
He said they received information that aside from those in Barangay Singcang-Airport, several trees in barangays Granada and Alangilan were also felled./PN
