Capitol fails to seek TRO vs. tree-cutting
LACK OF QUORUM IN SP
LINGAYEN–The provincial government may have already lost its last opportunity to save the remaining standing trees along the Manila North Road (MNR) when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) failed to muster a quorum in its scheduled special session on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Only ex-oficio board Member Amado Espino III and Sixth District Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani were present.
Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, SP presiding officer, who told newsmen earlier that the provincial board is maintaining its previous stand that there should be no more trees along that stretch to be cut, was also a no-show.
The SP was scheduled to approve Provincial Resolution No. 1711-2015 seeking to authorize Gov. Amado Espino Jr. to file a case against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) relative to the ongoing tree cutting along MNR, confined along the Urdaneta City-Binalonan, Pozorrubio-Sison stretch.
It also asks the Province of Pangasinan, represented by Gov. Espino, to seek the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and a Writ of Preliminary Injunction for the defendants to cease and desist from further conducting tree- cutting and earth-balling along the MNR.
The SP holds that the SP already approved three resolutions expressing its opposition to the tree cutting along national and local roads within the province and in one occasion, has issued a stern warning to DPWH to refrain from such activity.
The controversial tree-cutting that resumed was covered by a new sanitation tree cutting and earth-balling permit dated Oct. 30, 2015 signed by DENR Regional Director Paquito Moreno but which was received by the DPWH Third Engineering District only last Nov. 19 this year authorizing the cutting of 589 standing trees and for the earth-balling of 107 other trees.
The permit has a life span of 45 days, commencing upon receipt of the same.
By December 2, it was already reported that at least one half of the standing trees were already cut.
However, there was no report whether earth balling was undertaken by the Pahati Construction and Development Corporation, a contractor of the DPWH undertaking the widening of the MNR, as stipulated in the permit. (Leonardo Micua)
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