AN environmentalist advocate who came to Pangasinan to join oppositors of tree cutting along the Manila North Road that traverses Pangasinan said the passage of a provincial ordinance in 2012 yet “allowing the removal of existing trees and structures affected by road widening within the right of way” necessitates a review of the province’s environment code.

Patria Gwen Borcena of the Green Research told the KBP Forum in Dagupan City that the passage of the province’s Environment Code in July 2012 yet, which was unearthed by pro-tree cutting advocates for trees planted at the road shoulders that obstruct road widening projects led by former Pangasinan fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco, would serve as an opportunity for the provincial board to revisit it and possibly amend it.

She said she is a sociologist not a lawyer and is therefore not the authority to comment whether the resolution passed last month by the provincial board saying no to tree cutting would supersede the ordinance the same august body passed in 2012 allowing tree cutting.

“That will open up the debates now, to review the environment code and make the changes,” Borcena said.

“So right now, we are faced with a very good situation, a blessing in disguise,” she added.

Last month, the provincial board passed Resolution No. 269-2014 entitled “Expressing the sense of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan opposing the tree-cutting along the national road within Pangasinan with intent to preserve as many trees as possible”.

But on July 2, 2012, Provincial Board passed Ordinance No. 159-2012 “An Ordinance Enacting the Pangasinan Environment Code of 2012” authored by then Board Member Von Mark Mendoza and signed unanimously by the entire board and approved by Governor Amado Espino Jr. provides that “The road setback requirement of DPWH as adopted under this Code starts from the edge of the road right-of-way. For national roads, a ten-meter setback from the centerline and should be free from obstructions, and tree planting activities within the ten-meter setback is not allowed. It shall also include the removal of existing trees and structures affected by road widening within the right of way”.

When Sixth District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., who was among those who signed the ordinance, was sought for comment, he replied “I have no comment yet at this time and if it is part of the Code, and I did not know there was such a provision. It is part of an Environment Code and we may not have the opportunity to go over it,” he said. (Tita Roces)

COJUANGCO’S LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

However, Borcena still lambasted former fifth Congressman Mark Cojuangco for his statement against the agreement contra tree-cutting in the province specifically along the Manila North Road (MNR) as unstudied and signifies his lack of knowledge and appreciation of the important roles of civic society organizations (CSOs).

She told the KBP Forum, too, that her organization values the agreement it signed with the provincial government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other CSOs last August 26.

“It was borne out of an open and participatory consultative process initiated by the provincial local government and guided by relevant recent local and national policy directives,” she said.

Borcena pointed out that the agreement is in accordance with DENR Sec. Rogelio Singson’s memorandum “for the DPWH to conduct an in-depth review of the feasibility of the road-widening project, taking into consideration the possible options, including a realignment of road designs to skirt trees and to hold compressive consultations with all concerned local government units and civil society groups”.

She maintained that her group was driven by principles and passion without pay or economic rewards or benefits.

“We started this campaign to save Pangasinan trees without an institutional budget for this urgent issue”, said Borcena as she admitted that they were a little late since some 1, 059 trees have already been cut before the issue reached them as they were focused on the ‘Yolanda’ rehabilitation in Visayas.

She also urged the chief executives in eastern Pangasinan to pledge their support to the environment and not to their ‘padrinos’.

“We speak for the trees, especially when their survival are threatened by political and corporate greed”, said Borcena. (Hilda Martin Austria)

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