DENR-7 readies charges on illegal cutting of trees

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 is preparing the necessary evidence to file charges against those responsible for the cutting of 65 trees inside Pinamungajan District Hospital without securing special tree cutting permit from the agency.

“We are currently gathering evidences so that we can file the appropriate case. Our legal team is studying what violations to cite in the charges,” DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said.

Possible violations identified by Llamedo include Presidential Decree 705 (Forestry Code), Republic Act 3571 (Act Prohibiting Cutting of Trees within Public Areas), and PD 953 (Requiring the Planting of Trees in Certain Places and Penalizing Unauthorized Cutting, Destruction, Damaging and Injuring of Certain Trees, Plants and Vegetation).

Apart from hospital officials, DENR is likewise looking into possible liability of CENRO Toledo City chief Fedencio Carreon, who was said to have given the go signal to hospital officials to cut the trees as claimed by hospital management, Llamedo added.

A certification was issued by Carreon dated January 5, 2015 showed that he was aware of the hospital’s plan to remove the 85 trees to make way for the construction of a new building.

“This is to certify that the Mahogany and Gmelina trees planted within the vicinity of Dr. Jose Ma. V. Borromeo Memorial District Hospital sometime in the year 1992 will be affected by the proposed construction of additional building of said hospital and needs to be cut/removed,” read the certification released on the same day as the date of the letter.

But, Elvi Langbid, forester II of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office of Toledo City, made it clear that what the office released was just a certification addressed to the DENR-7, through the provincial environment office, that cited the trees that would be affected by the project.

She said the hospital was also asked to secure documentary requirements such as tax declaration and certification from the barangay on the ownership of the plantation which are needed for the issuance of the Certificate of Tree Plantation Ownership from DENR, if the application is approved.

The tree plantation registration expedites the process of securing clearances to harvest and transport timber products from the plantation, as provided in memorandum circular of the DENR.

“Karon pa gyud silang adlawa naka-comply,” Langbid said over the phone yesterday.

The DENR issued a cease and desist order dated February 2 on the cutting of trees due to lack of necessary permits.

With this, the expansion project which is being supervised by the province through the Provincial Engineering Office has been halted temporarily.

Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora said he had directed his staff not to proceed with the operation unless needed documents and permit were secured considering the number of the trees that would be affected. — (FREEMAN)