Councilor: Find relocation sites for earth-balled trees

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. has proposed an ordinance requiring a relocation site for earth-balled trees in the city prior to the issuance of endorsement on the removal and relocation of trees affected by government infrastructure projects and imposing penalties for a specific infraction.

This aims also to allow authorized personnel of Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) to conduct the monitoring.

The proposed measure entitled “Relocation Site for Earth-balled Trees Ordinance in Cebu City” was referred to the Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling as well as Committee on Environment for review.

The objectives of the ordinance are to guarantee continuous growth and/or survival of transplanted trees, to foster re-greening of the environment, and to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaption initiatives.

According to the measure, the endorsement shall be issued by the Office of the Mayor through the CCENRO upon verification of the relocation site.

It also provides that any person who makes any false statement on the availability of the relocation site, an indispensable condition for the issuance of endorsement on the removal and relocation of trees affected by the implementation of the government infrastructure projects, shall be fined with P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year or both.

The Presidential Decree No. 953, ‘Requiring the Planting of Trees in Certain Places and Penalizing Unauthorized Cutting, Destruction, Damaging and Injuring of Certain Trees, Plants And Vegetation’, was enacted to ensure strict compliance for environmental protection purposes.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order No. 2018-16, ‘Guidelines in the Processing and Issuance of Permits on the Removal and Relocation of Trees Affected by DPWH Projects’, mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways to secure endorsement from concerned local government units. —   JMD (FREEMAN)