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[av_heading heading=’DENR: Don’t railroad cutting of city trees’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – There must be consultations with stakeholders before the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) decides on the fate of the trees on General Luna Street, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking the city council’s endorsement of its plan to cut the trees. It said the trees must give way to its P100-million drainage project.
But before the SP can make a decision, it should first hold consultations with various stakeholders, stressed Regional Director Jim Sampulna of DENR.
DPWH plans to submit a favorable SP endorsement to the DENR so it could secure a permit to cut the trees.
This was same process that DPWH followed for a highway widening project in Pototan, Iloilo, said Sampulna.
The highway widening necessitated the cutting of over 5,000 roadside mahogany trees.
Without a favorable response from stakeholders and the SP, DENR will not allow the cutting of General Luna Street trees, said Sampulna.
“The decision comes from the people, not from me,” he clarified.
In Pototan’s case, DENR approved the cutting of the roadside trees following a favorable endorsement from the town’s Sangguniang Bayan following public consultations.
“Pag walang resolution ang local government coming from the Sanggunian, we will not approve the cutting of General Luna trees,” said Sampulna.
The director also clarified that should DENR issues a permit to cut the trees, there would be a condition that DPWH must fulfill – plant 100 tree seedlings for every tree it cuts.
The city council has yet to act on DPWH’s request for an endorsement. Majority of the councilors interviewed by Panay News said they wanted the department of explore alternative ways of implementing the drainage project without cutting the General Luna Street trees.
According to Sampulna, it took him four months to issue the permit allowing DPWH to cut the roadside trees of Pototan “in the name of development.”
In the case of the General Luna Street trees, DPWH claimed its drainage project will solve the downtown flood problem.
Sampulna said some five million tree seedlings must be planted in Pototan in lieu of the felled roadside trees.
DENR will make sure DPWH will comply with this requirement, he said.
Councilor Joshua Alim challenged DPWH engineers to use modern technology and techniques in drainage system construction.
“They are engineers. They know how to build roads or drainage systems perfectly and still avoid cutting down the trees,” he said.
Two years ago, Alim successfully rallied SP colleagues in opposing the uprooting of General Luna Street’s trees for DPWH’s road widening project.
Councilor Reyland Hervias agreed with Alim. He said DPWH should explore alternative methods to go about with the drainage project.
Councilor Jay Treñas, on the other hand, said he would personally appeal to DPWH to reconsider cutting the trees./PN
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