LINGAYEN — The provincial government of Pangasinan is not giving up on its fight to save the remaining trees along the Manila North Road (MNR) section in the province.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) finally passed a resolution no. 1714-2015 authorizing Governor Amado Espino Jr. to exhaust all legal remedies, including the filing of appropriate cases against the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), relative to the ongoing cutting of trees along the MNR in Pangasinan.

The SP resolution approved on December 7 affirmed that “a case would be filed by the province of Pangasinan, represented by the Governor, that would seek the issuance of temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction for the defendants to cease and desist from further conducting tree cutting and earth-balling.”

The resolution was eventually passed after its original title proposed by its sponsor Board Member Liberato Villegas was opposed and substituted by Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr.

Both Mr. Espino and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim had protested that the provincial government, including the provincial board, was not consulted in regard the issuance of the latest tree-cutting permit.

The SP had approved three resolutions previously 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 the DPWH to refrain from such activity.

However, Board Member Danilo Uy informed the body that the DPWH has since intensified its tree-cutting activities 24/7 because it anticipated the filing of the case by the provincial government.

Mr. Uy, who lives in Sison town, expressed fear that there may actually only five trees left standing.

The DPWH was given a permit by the DENR on Oct. 30, to expire on December 17, this year to cut the remaining 589 standing trees and to earth-ball at least 107 others for a period 45 days.

When asked by the provincial board whether the resolution would still be timely, Provincial Legal Officer Geraldyn Baniqued said it can still save remaining trees.

“I have the impression that there are still good number of trees that can be saved,” she said. “The trees that were cut are owned by the state as they were planted within the road right of way,” she added.

The trees that were recently cut were located on both sides of MNR in Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison while trees along the roadsides in Rosales, Villasis and Urdaneta City have been fully cleared.

A December 6 report confirmed that 357 trees out of the 589 trees that were still standing have already been cut.

DPWH Assistant Regional Director Ronnel Tan believes tree cutting will be over before December 17. (Leonardo Micua/Johanne Macob)

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments