6 narra trees to be earth-balled amid mall proposal

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) has recommended the removal or earth-balling of six narra trees that will be affected by the proposed construction of a mall in Barangay Carreta.

The CCENRO requested the Cebu City Council to pass a resolution interposing no objection to such removal.

“As per evaluation, Narra tree is considered Premium and needs special permit, under DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) Administrative Order No.78 guidelines on the Cutting/Gathering of Narra and other premium Hardwood Species par, 3 Cutting of narra and other hardwood trees shall only be allowed under written authority of the Sec. Of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office,” said CCENRO head Editha Peros.

“It is, therefore, the office's recommendation to permit the earth-balling of the subject 6 Narra trees, provided the procedures shall be fully undertaken by the applicant and under close monitoring and coordination by CCENRO personnel,” she added.

After the ocular inspection conducted by CCENRO personnel on March 22, 2022 at the project site, the office confirmed the existence of the six Narra trees that will be affected on the proposed project construction.

Per the inspection report, the said trees will be transferred in an adjacent location based on plan.

Trees which are approximately 194 cm in diameter and 2-3 meters in height are requested to be earth-balled.

CCENRO’s endorsement request for resolution was referred to the City Council’s Committee on Environment for review.

Joseph Davidson Gaisano, vice president for business development of DSG Sons Group/White Gold, in a letter to Mayor Michael Rama dated January 13, made the request for the approval of the earth-balling and transfer of existing trees at the facade of the building due to hindrances in entrance driveway and access road.

“Rest assured that we will apply a special process of replanting to secure the root system of the plant, leaving it undisturbed and intact like we applied in the previous project with a satisfactory result,” said Gaisano.

“Furthermore, please be informed that our personnel are technically capable and we have the appropriate equipment to perform this method of transplanting avoiding the possibility of shrub mortality. Please, also consider that we will be only repositioning these trees in adjacent location based on plan,” he added.

Earth-balling is a process of transferring, from one location to another, a tree or vegetation that has grown past its seedling stage.

A permit must be obtained from DENR before any earth-balling is conducted. To apply for a permit, an application letter, photographs of trees to be removed, sketch map showing the location of trees to be removed, endorsement of the local government unit concerned, Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) if needed as well as minutes of public consultation concerning the removal of trees should be submitted. — JMD (FREEMAN)