ADVOCACY FOR ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES

LINGAYEN— The Pangasinan provincial board has maintained its position in regard to the cutting of trees along Manila North Road (MNR), particularly along Pozorrubio and Binalonan section.

“We will continue to sustain our opposition to the further cutting of trees,” said Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. after the Question Hour with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during their September 28 regular session.

He said the Board will communicate their viewpoint to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson through a provincial resolution to declare a moratorium and save the remaining 543 trees.

Mr. Bince said that even before the cutting of the 181 alleged dead and dying trees completed the other week, they have already expressed their opposition to the cutting of the trees.

He was adamant that the Board was not consulted in regard the cutting operations.

According to DENR assistant regional director (ARD) Gwendolyn Bambalan, no new permit has been issued to cut the remaining 589 living trees “in consideration to the letter of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. to spare living trees.”

At the same time, the board members wondered if the trees cut along the Manila North Road from Carmen, Rosales to Sison town were really sent to public schools under the Pangasinan II school division as directed since more than 700 trees were already removed early this year.

DENR Assistant Regional Director Gwendolyn Bambalan said at least 672.25 cubic meters of the cut down trees covered by deeds of donation between the DENR and LGUs went to the local government units of Rosales, Villasis, Urdaneta City, Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison.

Bambalan also said the newly cut 181 dead and dying trees were brought to a depository at the Pozorrubio Central School, new public market of Sison, Pangasinan State University in Asingan. Villasis Livelihood Center, premises of the Urdaneta City abbatoir and MRF of Binalonan.

However, no deed of donation has been signed yet for these trees.

Mr. Bince reminded the DENR that it has not submitted a report showing how many were actually delivered to fill up the requirements for desks, chairs and tables of public elementary and high school students in the four towns and one city along the MNR.

Aware that the remaining 543 standing trees along the MNR were really intended to be cut as well by the DPWH, Mr. Bince said the SP will pass another resolution asking the Environment and Natural Resources Secretary for a moratorium on the cutting of trees.

Bambalan assured the SP that the remaining 543 standing trees will not be touched unless the DENR undersecretary issues the clearance for their cutting following appropriate procedures.

Fr. Robert Reyes, the running priest and a Franciscan missionary, is leading the opposition to the cutting down of living trees along the MNR. Reyes is the lead convenor of the National Coalition to Save the Trees joined by environmental activists from Manila and Pangasinan.

Reyes claimed that the DPWH and DENR were lying in saying the 181 trees they recently cut were dead and dying trees.

“The serious crime here is not only the cutting of trees but the blatant decision of the DPWH in coalition with the DENR who declared these trees as dead and dying contrary to what tree experts discovered,” said Reyes.

He said most of the remaining trees are also healthy, “some are sick because they’re old but not dying and can be nurtured back to health. 

Meanwhile, Sixth District Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani appeared to have softened his stand against the removal of all trees along MNR when he echoed the need for the MNR to be widened even if the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway is completed.

He said the TPLEX would be taken by motorists who can afford to pay toll fees. On the other hand, the MNR, if widened into four-lane road, can serve motorists who can not afford to pay the toll fees. (Johanne Macob/Leonardo Micua)

Back to Homepage

 

 

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments