CENRO seeking proceeds from cut Pinamungajan trees

CEBU, Philippines - The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Toledo City is now looking for the proceeds from the cut trees at Pinamungajan District Hospital.

CENRO staff member Luther Hernando said somebody sold the cut trees but their office has no complete data yet.

 A team composed of foresters has been investigating the cutting of trees reportedly without permit from the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

 Hernando said the cut trees are supposed to be turned over to the DENR since these were planted in public land.

 “Maproblema sila ana kung kinsa ang nagbaligya,” Hernando said.

 The DENR-7 is already preparing the necessary evidence to file charges against those responsible for the cutting of 65 trees at the Pinamungajan District Hospital without securing special tree cutting permit from the agency.

 Possible violations identified by DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie 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).

 Llamedo said 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.

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

The project will push through unless the needed documents and permits are secured considering the number of trees that would be affected. (FREEMAN)