DENR rehabs 37 trees in Cebu City, Carcar

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 recently conducted a tree health monitoring and assessment and applied treatment to old and defectives trees.

There were 195 acacia and narra trees checked in Cebu City and Carcar City and 37 underwent rehabilitation through tree surgery. 

Tree surgery is a five-step process of removing the decayed or rotten portion, putting a disinfectant, applying a fungicide and a coal tar and cementing the affected part of a tree.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo R. Montejo said this is part of the National Greening Program (NGP) as envisioned under Executive Order No. 26 issued by President Aquino on Feb. 24 last year.

With the program, the government hopes that by the end of six years, some 1.5 million hectares of the country’s denuded areas will be transformed into vibrant new plantation of forest trees or agroforestry. 

Of the 195 trees assessed, 138 of these are in Cebu City, particularly in Fort San Pedro, Plaza Independencia, Fuente Osmeña rotunda and along Osmeña Boulevard.

DENR applied rehabilitation treatment to 27 trees.

In Carcar City, there are 57 identified trees and 10 of these were given treatment.

Montejo said the monitoring and assessment program has a budget of P200,000. Aside from treating defective trees, they also identify trees that are beyond treatment and need to be cut down.

Forester Joselito T. Sumabat, Lyndisa C. Quiachon of the Ecosystems Research and Development Services (ERDS) and Mercelina Pacho of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) conducted the tree health monitoring and tree surgery.

ERDS Regional Technical Director Emma E. Melana said they have been regularly monitoring trees in identified areas in Central Visayas to ensure these trees’ safety and protection.  (FREEMAN)