SP mulls amendment over ‘tree-cutting’ controversy
ENVIRONMENT CODE
LINGAYEN—The raging controversy over the fate of the remaining trees that the road-widening project along the Manila North Road in Pangasinan has sought to be removed, has triggered a discussion for the review and possible amendment of the province’s environment code by the provincial board.
This loomed after a senior member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) promptly belied a claim by former 5th District Rep. Mark Cojuangco that the provincial board’s resolution banning the cutting of trees along the road-widening project of the Manila North Road in Pangasinan, contradicts the thrust of the province’s environmental code.
In his privilege speech, 6th District Board member Alfonso Bince Jr. maintained the resolution is not contradictory since the resolution, being temporary in nature “merely expresses the board’s sentiment owing to concerns and apprehensions of well-meaning environmentalists headed by the Green Research and others who have no ill-motives to oppose the tree-cutting of Mr. Mark Cojuangco.”
He said SP Resolution No. 412-2014 simply reiterated SP Resolution No. 269-2014 authored by Board Member Generoso Tulagan Jr., chairman of the SP Committee on Environment.
Bince said that contrary to Cojuangco’s claim in his letter to the provincial board last week, SP Resolution No. 412 does not amend Ordinance no. 159-2012: the Environment Code of Pangasinan.
The provision being invoked by Cojuangco reads: “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 structure affected by road widening within the right of way.”
Bince then suggested that “…it is possible that with this resolution which now spawned tremendous interests from many that the SP may review its Environment Code and consider the results of this dialogue between the lovers of environment and climate change and those who are oppose to environment.”
POLITICS
Bince also chided Cojuangco for the latter’s appeal in his letter to the SP “that politics should not be a reason to delay the delivery of legitimate long thought-out work and high-value infrastructure to our people.”
“Isn’t it Mark Cojuangco who is playing politics in the tree cutting issue?” the lawmaker asked rhetorically.
“Let me state for the record, that the SP has never, never played politics,” he said. “It is Sir Mark Cojuangco who is playing politics in this tree-cutting issue. It appears that he is pointing to the SP and the governor, whom he has even challenged to a debate on this tree-cutting'” he added.
Bince urged Cojuangco to read Philippine Daily Inquirer’s columnist Neal Cruz’s thoughts on the issue, and proceeded to read an excerpt: “Congressman Cojuangco has no imagination, which, I hope, is not the case with all members of Congress. Roads can be widened without cutting trees. It has been done many times before, not only in the Philippines but in many other countries as well. And it is easy, simple and cheap. Just widen the road on the other side of the trees and make the line of trees a traffic island, thus making the road safer. In the provinces, this is not difficult to do as there is plenty of land there.”
Meanwhile, provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, in his press statement, said, “Mr. Cojuangco should learn and begin to listen to the silent majority, whose rights have been violated, feelings deeply hurt, properties destroyed, and their future compromised, as result of this whimsical and patently cruel plan to widen the Manila North Road, which has also caused the irreparable damage to a large portion of this historic and environmental treasure and scenic drive across the province of Pangasinan.” – (Johanne R. Macob/PNA/PIO)
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