DENR stops cutting of trees
543 TREES WIN REPRIEVE
LINGAYEN-The National Coalition to Save the Trees in Pangasinan can heave a sigh of relief momentarily following decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to suspend any cutting of trees along the Manila North Road pending completion of a deeper study that ensure a balance between development and environment.
DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones, in a talk to newsmen during the 1st Pangasinan Environment Summit, said “it is status quo as far as the 543 standing trees on both sides of the MNR is concerned for now until a decision is reached on two options.
These are 1) to proceed with the road widening project as planned; 2) to amend the widening scheme that will allow the remaining trees along the road in their places.
“Because there are so many people who are opposing the cutting of these trees, a study is ongoing on what is going to be done,” said Leones, also noting that the widening of the MNR is a government program and the project is needed by Pangasinan considering the big number of tourists from Manila visiting the province.
Leones said on account of increasing volume of tourist traffic that leads to Pangasinan especially on weekends and holidays, the DPWH proposed the widening of the MNR.
“But it so happened that it is lined up with trees that need to be felled,” he said.
“That is why there is a need for the people of Pangasinan to know about this project, what economic benefits will be derived from it and the environmental impact that may result if the trees will all be cut,” he pointed out.
He said the DENR wants to keep and plant more trees but the MNR highway widening is also under the jurisdiction of another government agency that needs to be supported.
“Sa ngayon, it is status quo,” said Leones.
“We will see what we can do with the project. We will determine if it is possible to skirt some of the remaining trees and what can be done so that the road will not be hazardous to motorists with the trees,” he said.
He said opposition to the cutting of the 543 trees along the MNR is similar to the opposition of the people of Batangas to the opening of a mining activity in a far-flung area.
“We are weighing all things and determining the benefits that the move could give to the bigger number of population, keeping in mind that economy and environmental concerns must always go together,” he said.
“It is not all economics, there should be a balance between development and environment,” he added,
Leones said that despite the existence of the Tarlac-Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEx), the DPWH still insisted on widening MNR because when one exits TPLEx in Urdaneta, the intersection on MNR will become a choke point.
To resolve the stand off, Leones suggested more dialogues to be conducted between the DENR, DPWH and the stakeholders.
He reiterated that DENR will suspend issuance of any permit that will allow cutting or the trees. (Leonardo Micua)
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