Naga courtesy visit turns sour Mayor, priest figure in heated tree debate

CEBU, Philippines – "Ikaw lang ang nagsabi na may sala ako. Hindi ako nagkasala (Only you are saying I've sinned. I've never sinned.). Who will judge us, father?"

So said City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong to environmental advocate Fr. Robert Reyes in a supposed cordial meet up between the two yesterday that turned less than so in the middle.

Fr. Reyes paid a courtesy call to the mayor yesterday shortly after visiting an ongoing sports oval project inside the City of Naga Central Elementary School campus.

Chiong has been one of the main proponents of the sports-related project.

But as it entails cutting down several trees, the establishment of the sports venue has been a subject of criticism of some pro-environment quarters, including the Movement for a Livable Cebu and other concerned citizens - and lately, of Fr. Reyes.

Reacting reportedly to the "pay for your sin" statement of Fr. Reyes, the mayor insisted he has not committed any sin for espousing the project.

"Who will value more than the preservation of environment of Naga...ako. And I have never thought of leaving Naga, that I can assure you," Chiong told Reyes.

In turn, Fr. Reyes responded that he can judge those who are responsible for the cutting down of trees to pave the way for the project, only to take back his words later that he is not judging, "only stating the facts."

The 13-minute meeting ended with the mayor inviting Fr. Reyes to put on his running shoes and hit the rubberized track oval once the project is completed early next year.

Support

The 28 barangay captains of the city have expressed full support to the move of the city government to construct the track oval at the school campus.

Barangay officials recently visited the mayor's office to express support to the move even if it is widely opposed by some groups.

Earlier, some residents of the city and the Movement for a Livable Cebu asked the Court of Appeals in Cebu Station for the issuance of a temporary environmental protection order to stop the cutting of trees within the school premises.

Winley dela Fuente, claiming to be a concerned citizen and president of the City's Federation of Parents Teachers Associations, together with City Councilor Venci del Mar, Macaraig Canton of MLC and citizens Francis Dejero and Adonis Laborte, personally filed a petition for Writ of Kalikasan before the CA last November 7.

Trees to be removed

Only 24 trees have been scheduled for cutting inside the campus. Some 21 trees have been exempted from the cutting while two more trees will be earth-balled and replanted in an area away from the project site.

If not for the delayed issuance of a special tree cutting permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the eight-lane rubberized track oval project with football field could have been completed this month.

Last April 25, the city government applied for a cutting permit from DENR. On September 23, the DENR undersecretary for field operation gave clearance to the cutting. This subsequently gave rise to the issuance of the cutting permit.

The permit requires the local government to plant 50 tree seedlings for every mature tree cut and seedlings will be planted at the National Greening Program sites of the DENR.