Please save God's trees!
We could not believe seeing acacia trees that survived for centuries being summarily chain-sawed, without the benefit of hard evidence to prove that the trees were decayed and therefore harmful to people in Naga.
For the sake of transparency and public education, can the DENR and DPWH produce the expert evidence that there was no other recourse but to condemn and cut the life of the acacia trees?
Could not the DENR and DPWH have turned to other options that could save the lives of people as well as save the lives of the living trees?
Could they not also have informed the public with indisputable data about why they had to cut the precious God-created trees before they swiftly sentenced the trees to be cut and to die?
Did the DENR and DPWH consult local and international tree experts about how best to deal and manage the heritage trees?
We tried our best to reach out to a local tree specialist at UPLB, through contacts and the FB, but sadly, until now, no tree expert has replied to our request for options for the precious acacia trees of Naga.
For sure, however, we have local and international experts who can best guide DENR and DPWH and the local Naga council about how best to protect the trees, thereby protecting people as well.
Perhaps, the DENR and DPWH can call on experts from their foreign counterparts. This video at http://atchuup.com/3200-year-old-tree-photo/ may give them an idea about how a 3.200 year-old tree called THE PRESIDENT and standing 247 feet tall has continued to be preserved at the Sierra Nevada's Sequoia National Park.
Gratefully, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson also sees the importance of protecting the trees. He issued a handwritten note that read: "Let's not widen the roads in Carcar even if we get LGU or DENR clearance. Let's not cut trees anymore for widening. Let's just improve shoulder and put loading bays and flaring of intersections."
Thankfully, running activist priest, Fr.Reyes, also came to remind everyone to save the trees. We are also grateful and we salute Dondon Dimas and others from the Inter Mountaineering Society, Inoburan resident Lito Labore and others from the Movement for Livable Cebu for embracing the cause of saving the trees.
If the trees are proven to be ailing, beyond treatment, after research and with unmistakable solid data, then and only then should the verdict of death to these ailing trees be carried out. However, before cutting, perhaps research and experts can also provide alternatives for managing old and ailing heritage trees?
DENR and DPWH and the local Naga Council have not yet presented the most awaited indisputable data about the state of the precious trees along Naga and Carcar. What gives them the right to "kill" some trees without any solid proof that such trees are truly decayed and harmful?
Should not the DENR and DPWH allocate budget and resources to have all heritage trees, not only in Naga and Carcar, but in all Philippine roads and highways be regularly evaluated and monitored and also to determine alternative options for managing such trees rather than hastily resorting to tree-cutting or chain-sawing?
A teacher in Inabanga, Bohol commented, after seeing the FB photos of a chain-sawed acacia tree uploaded by Alex Badayos, "Naa gud unta nay remedies- pruning, topping, dead heading pero......mao nay giingon sa tagalog nga "kung gusto, may paraan, kung ayaw, maraming dahilan."
Our former UP Cebu graduate, Armando Gaviola replied to my FB message commending them for their Monthly Arbor Day FB photos at Mahayahay, Sogod as follows: "naa man gud na exact word ana madam, magpasajun at the expense of nature/environment."
Cebuanos and every other Filipino can learn from the Coastal and Fisheries Resources Management Unit in Southern Leyte who plant mangrove and coastal beach trees at riverbanks and with the Forest Resource Management Unit who plant trees "sa kabukiran ug sa roads and highways" together with the people in Southern Leyte who practice tree planting monthly.
Now, however, our immediate task is to try to stop the cutting of the precious acacia trees until the authorities have incontestable proof that these trees should be condemned to die. Before the death sentence for the trees, however, like every living creature, the trees deserve to be afforded options and alternatives to live.
Please, please, do your share soonest to save these God-created trees in Naga and in Carcar and wherever you are.
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