RESUMED TREE-CUTTING ALONG MNR

LINGAYEN –The officers-in-charge at the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Third District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been asked by the

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to explain tomorrow, Monday, during its regular session the reported lapses committed in the implementation of a permit issued to cut dead and dying trees along the Manila National Road in Pangasinan.

DPWH’s Engr. Emmanuel Diaz has been invited specifically to explain why he did not consult the SP and whether the local governments of Urdaneta, Pozorrubio and Binalonan were consulted as well prior to the removal of the 153 dead and 28 dying trees.

DENR’s Paquito Moreno will be asked to explain the circumstances behind the issuance of the a Special Tree Cutting Permit/Sanitation Cutting Permit for the cutting of the dead trees and dying trees and whether its officers in Pangasinan monitored the cutting of the trees as required by the permit.

Board Member Alfonso Bince, Jr. noted that the permit issued by the DENR to DPWH, “the permittee shall conduct meetings or public consultations with the local government units, private organizations and other stakeholders in the area” to discuss the urgency of the tree cutting or sanitation cutting and other environmental and social aspects of the project and to address any issue that may be raised.

Mr. Bince asserted that that no consultation was made by the DPWH with the SP, the biggest stakeholder in the tree-cutting issue and queried if consultations were made with the local governments of Urdaneta, Binalonan and Pozorrubio.

He pointed out that if reports that live trees were among those cut and removed as well, both agencies disrespected the SP’s resolution suspending the cutting of trees along the MNR.  

Mr. Binces said any violation of the resolution and the conditions in the permit will be dealt with by the members of SP even as he reminded both offices that the SP is opposed to any tree cutting in the area.

Franciscan priest, Fr. Robert Reyes, was in Urdaneta, Sison and Pozorrubio on September 17, to stop and condemn the resumption of the cutting of trees along the MNR notwithstanding the hold order issued by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje.

The “running priest” expressed disgust over the non-compliance of the agreement he reached with Mr. Paje and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson that no tree shall be cut again along the MNR and the remaining century-old trees along the area will be protected.

The PUNCH had reported that Fr. Reyes claimed that many of the girdled trees that were removed were slowly reviving, responding to the treatment and live trees were cut as well, a fact attested to by Women in Development leaders Yolanda Sia and Virginia Pasalo.

Reyes and members of the National Coalition for the Save the Trees Movement tied white ribbons on surviving trees along the MNR. (With report from PIO/ADV)

 

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