DPWH’s road-widening projects suspended
NO PERMITS FOR TREE-CUTTING
ROAD widening projects of the district engineering offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the province hit a snag due to suspension of cutting of trees along areas traversed by construction sites.
At the recent KBP Forum, the district engineers confirmed that several major projects are either suspended or delayed because of the issues surrounding tree cutting.
Engr. Yolanda Tangco, newly-designated district engineer of the 2nd Pangasinan Engineering District, said the ongoing construction of the drainage system project in Libsong, Lingayen cannot proceed because the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has not issued a permit to cut the trees in the area.
She added that the same dilemma is affecting the construction of the access road project in Bocboc, Aguilar town.
Engr. Marieta Mendoza, district engineer of the 4th Pangasinan Engineering District, said six trees remain in a road-widening project in Malasiqui town because DENR has not issued the needed permit.
“Our problem here later is that these (uncut trees) become obstructions in our national roads. These are road hazards and could cause accidents,” Mendoza added.
Meanwhile, she reported that for the project in Minien, Sta. Barbara, the replacement planting of 400 seedlings for the DENR permit to cut 11 trees has already been done at a dike in Barangay Tuliao.
For every tree cut, 100 seedlings must be planted to replace it and they must ensure that 80 percent would survive.
She said a memorandum from their national office ordered the district offices to suspend cutting of trees operation in their project sites unless they have the DENR permits.
“Since we cannot cut, we just install signs that are visible even at night warning motorists of presence of trees in widened parts.” Mendoza said.
Three big trees near the carriageway of a project in San Carlos City pose problem too, she added.
Third Engineering District Engr. Emmanuel Diaz said his district is already “very celebrated” because of the Manila North Road (MNR) project where a case was filed by an environmentalist group seeking an injunction to stop the cutting of trees along the area traversed by the project.
He confirmed that he received a copy of a resolution by the provincial board stopping the cutting of trees in all road projects in Pangasinan.
“Secretary (Rogelio) Singson issued a memorandum (to us) to comply with it pending resolution of the case filed,” Diaz said.
At the MNR, 21 trees had been identified as dead but remain where they are even if these pose hazard to the public, he said.
“The regular infra program of the DPWH would be set back especially the Manila North Road which is an arterial road,” he added.
The DPWH targets 3,000 kilometers of road widening of arterial roads that includes the MNR up to 2016.
At the 1st Engineering District, Assistant District Engr. Gil Lorenzo said they are not encountering any problem with trees in their upgrading of road shoulders projects. (Tita Roces)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
