Gullas ignores road project oppositors

CEBU, Philippines - “They can do their worst, I will just do my best”.

This was Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas’ reaction to the detractors of his P1.25 billion Naga-Carcar road project.

“Love of trees is not just a monopoly of one person or a group of individual. I myself does not want cutting of trees. But it’s the DPWH and the DENR shall be the one to decide on that,” Gullas told The Freeman.

Earlier, the Philippine Earth Justice Center, Inc. (PEJC) condemned the proposed cutting of heritage and fruit-bearing trees affected by the widening of Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Naga-Carcar Section.

 PEJC co-founder Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said that this project, which accommodates the wishes of Gullas is grossly insensitive to the desire of the Cebuanos to preserve their natural heritage, amid the degraded environment and the climate change impacts that we are highly vulnerable to.

Ramos said that PEJC will not hesitate to file a petition for Writ of Kalikasan and Temporary Environmental Protection Order to stop this activity.

Gullas said this project is beneficial not just to the Cebuanos but to the Boholanos and Negrenses as well who will pass the road on their way to Cebu City.

“The benefits are not only for Cebu province but inter-regional and intra-regional influence,” Gullas said.

The Coalition of 14 business chambers and CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) have expressed support on the project.

Gullas said that of the P1.25 billion budget needed for the project, a total of P400 million was “gifted” to him by Cebu City South District Representative Tomas Osmeña and the P300 million is from his congressional initiatives.

The remaining balance will still be taken from Gullas’ congressional initiatives next year.

Gullas said that he still have more or less five months (from January to May 2013) to get the needed funds as he intends to finish it before his term ends next year.

“Samsam will continue this project, God willing,” said Gullas.

Gerard Anthony Gullas or Samsam, is Gullas’ grandson and is now running for a seat in Congress.  

The elder Gullas is now running for mayor in Talisay City.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 already created a 15-member multi-sectoral team to conduct a comprehensive assessment on the number of century old acacia trees affected by the project.

Isabelo R. Montejo, DENR-7 executive director has emphasized that no cutting of trees shall commence until the completion of the assessment and after all the requirements shall have been satisfactorily complied with taking into consideration the social acceptability issue.

    It may be recalled that 155 trees with an aggregate volume of 192.77 cubic meters of different species will be affected on the account of the May 11 and 16 inventory conducted by a joint team from DPWH and DENR.

The said inventory revealed that 25 are century old acacia trees with a diameter ranging from 92 centimeters to 226 centimeters. Of the 25, nine were considered to be defective and hazardous.——(FREEMAN)