Ciudad developer: No old trees will be cut

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wishes to save the old trees that will be affected by the Ciudad Project in barangay Apas but if there is no way of saving these, he would be willing to let these go in exchange for the project that can generate jobs.

Rama’s statement was issued in reaction to the resolution of the City Council urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to first address the environmental concerns such as the plan of massive cutting of trees at the Ciudad Project site.

While the mayor said the project developer should try its best to comply with all the provisions of the environmental laws, he explained that if it is necessary to cut the trees he will not oppose on it.

When the Japanese contractor constructed the tunnel traversing Plaza Independencia two years ago, its workers had tried their best to save the century-old Acacia trees and successfully uprooted them and transferred these to other locations.

But Jonji Gonzalez, spokesman for the Fifth Avenue Development Corporation, the developer of the Ciudad Project, said based on their plan and design no old trees will be affected of the construction.

He said they even need the old trees as added features to the Ciudad Project because the types of the buildings that will be constructed, once the city will allow them to start the construction, will look like those from the Spanish era.

The proposed P1.2-billion Ciudad Project is composed of five commercial buildings that will be constructed within the Cebu province-owned lots previously used by the Cebu International School beside the Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue.

Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on environment, had received reports that more than 200 of the close to 300 trees within the proposed 2.4 hectare Ciudad Project will be cut down to give way to the construction of the basement parking.

The mayor said the project developer should comply with the provisions of the law, including the protection of the old trees, and if necessary put up a sewerage treatment plant for the wastewater coming from all establishments in Ciudad Project.

Cabrera earlier said the existing design of the project showed that instead of STP, the Ciudad Project will only create septic tanks that are not compliant with standards considering the volume and magnitude of the project.

Once the DENR will issue the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the Ciudad Project, the project contractor will immediately start the construction because the City Planning and Development Office had already issued locational clearance.

Cebu City South district Rep. Tomas Osmeña is strongly opposed to the project because he said it will worsen the traffic congestion within the vicinity that is why Osmeña, while he was still the city mayor, suspended the implementation of the project. (FREEMAN)