EcoWaste backs gov’t vs cutting of trees in Intramuros

Green group Ecological Waste Coalition (ECoWaste) yesterday expressed its solidarity with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in condemning the “gruesome slaughter” of at least 25 trees, which was supposed to pave the way for a landscaping and development project in historic Intramuros in the capital city of the Philippines.

EcoWaste said it is “deeply shocked” to learn about the mindless cutting of the trees that used to enhance the beauty of Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral.

“We mourn the gruesome slaughter of the Plaza Roma trees, a dastardly act ironically committed against the ill-fated trees barely a week before Christian churches mark the Creation Month in September to celebrate the gifts of nature and our connectivity with Mother Earth,” said Manny Calonzo, president of EcoWaste.

According to the ecology group, representatives of Barangay 655 Zone 69 in Intramuros confirmed to EcoWaste members, who conducted a visit in the area over the weekend, that a total of 29 trees were cut in violation of the cutting and balling permit issued on Aug. 5 by the DENR’s National Capital Region office to the Intramuros Administration (IA). Calonzo said that among those trees cut, through what Eco­Waste termed as the “chainsaw massacre,” were healthy narra, mahogany, mango, neem, fire and Indian trees.

The ecology group said that the county’s national tree — narra — is not only known for its ecological and ornamental benefits but also for its healing properties.

“A village official who was at Plaza Roma during the chance visit of the EcoWaste complained that no coordination was made with the office of the barangay chairman, when the trees were on last Aug. 25,” Calonzo said.

EcoWaste also sought the reaction of IA chief Marie Ana Harper regarding the incident. Calonzo said that Harper explained over the phone that what they planned for was to transfer some of the trees to pave the way for the re-landscaping of Plaza Roma. Calonzo said Harper denied giving any personal order to cut the trees, which was supposedly given by one of her staff to the private contractor for the project.

“However, I can’t say it’s not my fault due to command responsibility,” Harper was quoted to have said.

A day after the inspection conducted by the DENR-NCR personnel Aug. 27, regional executive director Cora Davis issued a notice of violation to the IA office and gave Harper seven days upon receipt of the NOV to explain why she should not be charged for violating PD 953.

P.D. 953, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1976, penalizes any person who cuts, destroys, damages or injures naturally growing or planted trees, flowering or ornamental plants and shrubs and other plants of scenic, aesthetic and those with ecological values.

According to David, officials of the IA previously sought the DENR’s permission to cut 27 trees in front of the momentous Manila Cathedral for the landscaping and development project. DENR granted IA’s application and issued a “tree cutting and balling permit” to Harper early August.

But Davis alleged that several conditions prescribed in the permit “were simply ignored” when the cutting of the trees was carried out. Davis said that IA failed to observe an explicit prohibition on the cutting of narra trees, which must be balled and transferred to any appropriate site in Intramuros; issue public notice and notify the area’s barangay council about the tree-cutting; and inform the DENR when the cutting of the trees will be undertaken so that experts from the government agency can provide technical advice on the balling of the narra trees.

Meanwhile, the truckload of the felled trees that was seized from Plaza Roma on Aug. 28 by a DENR-NCR team led by forester Rolando Laroya will remain in government custody pending the resolution of the case.