Prov’l board chides DENR over tree cutting along MNR
LINGAYEN– The provincial board, perturbed by the resumption of tree-cutting along the Manila North Road (MNR), is set to hold an inquiry into the reported activity.
“It seems that the DENR is impolite because aware of our resolution that any cutting of trees dead or alive should at least be conveyed to us,” said Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr.
Bince referred to the Provincial Resolution No. 269-2014 expressing the Board’s opposition “to the cutting of trees along the national roads within the province, with intent to preserve as many trees as possible with stern warning to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) Third Pangasinan Engineering District not cut any of the standing big trees, more or less 700…”
The resolution was passed last June primarily to save the 770 remaining trees out of the 1,829 affected by the road-widening of the MNR along the national highway in eastern Pangasinan towns- Rosales, Villasis, Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Sison, and Urdaneta City.
In a report from Col. Fernando De Guzman, then officer-in-charge of the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council, had reported that “almost all of the big trees (more or less 700) planted/standing within the shoulder of the MNR were girdled or having an initial cut at the lower portion of the said trees.”
Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 1 gave a permit to cut 189 of the dead and dying trees.
“We are going to call the DENR to explain to us why they have to issue that kind of permit,” said Bince citing the conditions set in the resolution.
Assistant regional director of DPWH Region 1, Ronnel Tan, said on September 15, 2015 that only two trees of the 189 are left uncut, but these too will be felled within the week.
He stressed that only dead and dying trees were cut as specified in the permit.
He also denied they are also cutting the living trees and called the allegation a ‘misconception.’
“We are only trimming branches of living trees as part of our maintenance activities,” he said.
However, Virginia J. Pasalo, trustee of the Women in Development Foundation, one of the groups that opposed the cutting of the trees, told The PUNCH that her group has evidence that belie DPWH’S claim.
He added that they will secure another permit in case they proceed with the cutting of the over 500 trees left they claim to have died. (Johanne Macob).
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