PPC awaits DENR nod to earth-ball 13 trees

CEBU, Philippines - As soon as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gives the go signal, the Cebu City Parks and Playground Commission will start earth-balling more than 10 trees along the Pope John Paul Avenue II (formerly Juan Luna Avenue) in order to remove the center islands where the trees are planted.

PPC already submitted the remaining requirements for the commission to be issued the special permit. The requirements include the certification from Barangay Luz stating it “interposes no objection” on the earth-balling of the trees. The PPC also submitted an endorsement from the Department of Public Works and Highways – District Engineer Office.

“The requirements stipulated in your letter have been complied… At the same time, it would be appreciated if we may be issued an Earth-balling Permit of the trees requested so we can have them replanted in vacant spaces near the area to fill in the gaps,” said PPC Chairman  Dr.  Librado  Macaraya, in a letter to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.

CENRO has advised PPC to secure three requirements for the issuance of the permit to avoid any violations of DENR laws, rules and regulations and in consonance with an existing memorandum.

Before PPC received the barangay and DPWH certification, the commission conducted a public consultation, which is also included in the required procedure, with environmentalist groups, non-government organizations and the private sector last September 3.

The three requirements set by DENR, as well as the other documents, were already forwarded to DENR-7 and will then be submitted to DENR Central Office in Manila for approval.

If DENR approves the earth-balling permit, PPC can earth-ball at least nine fire trees along Pope John Paul Avenue II. Eleven trees were initially set for earth-balling but were reconsidered following consultations with private groups. Further, four more maho-gany trees from the sidewalk fronting the two entrances of the International Eucharistic Congress 2016 Eucharistic Village will also be earth-balled.

PPC officers have already assured that they will only prioritize the trees obstructing the road.

“We have performed ball out procedure of big trees in the past and said trees remain to stand up to the present,” Macaraya said.

The proposed removal of the concrete center islands was anchored on the request of the Cebu City Transportation Office in preparation for the upcoming IEC hosting of Cebu.

CCTO acting executive director lawyer Rey Gea-lon said the international gathering will gather an estimated 15,000 delegates that will be pooled with buses from their hotels.

“The removal of some of the concrete center islands will surely help ease the traffic flow in the area and conducive for bus drivers to maneuver to and from the Pavilion and the initial approaches,” he said. — May B. Miasco/ATO (FREEMAN)