Don't blame us for accidents

CEBU, Philippines - If a tree falls, it will not be their fault.

This was the sentiment of San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy yesterday, referring to his stand and that of those who pushed for the cutting of century-old acacia trees in southern Cebu.

"It has always been our stand to remove the trees because it endangers the people. Now that it has been decided that it will not be cut, wala na tay labot ana," Canoy told reporters during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel yesterday.

Canoy said he believes that the trees endanger public safety, as they stand right along the main highway in the south.

Earlier, a manifesto was to be signed by mayors in the south pushing for the cutting of the trees but the plan did not push through.

Instead, it is the League of Municipalities of the Philippines - Cebu Chapter that came up with a resolution for the same purpose, said chapter president Democrito Diamante, the current mayor of Tuburan.

Last week, tree pathologist Dr. Ernesto Militante inspected the controversial heritage trees in Naga City and San Fernando town and recommended pruning and interventions such as tree surgery.

Militante believed that the trees that line the road from Naga to Carcar City can be preserved.

Concerned groups like the Movement for a Livable Cebu, Inter Mountaineering Society, Cebu Mountaineers Association, among others, lauded the findings following stiff opposition to the cutting.

Earlier still, tree expert Dr. Roger Guzman assessed the trees but admitted his findings were not conclusive, hence, a tree pathologist was tapped following a dialogue among environmentalists, involved local government units, the provincial government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

At the Capitol yesterday, Governor Hilario Davide III stood by his stand to have the trees cut supposedly to make way for a road development project in the area.

Davide said he will meet Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Baltazar Tribunalo, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and the concerned mayors next week to tackle, among other things, Militante's findings.

 "My stand is still the same. Next week we will have a meeting with Tribunal, concerned mayors, DENR, DPWH to discuss that," he said.

Former congressman Eduardo Gullas has reacted to Militante's recommendation, saying the issue is not about the health of the trees but the development of Cebu's road network, which is expected to spur development in the south.

Gullas said it is easy for Militante and other environmentalists to lobby to save the trees. At least four Acacia trees have already fallen in the past two years. – (FREEMAN)