Hazardous acacias to be cut today

CEBU, Philippines - People traveling to and from the southern tip of Cebu today are warned of heavy traffic in Naga City as authorities cut seven hazardous century-old acacia trees that line the main highway.

The operation will be undertaken from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The highway will be closed to traffic temporarily, which may last for more than an hour when the wrecking (sic) will cut the first acacia tree in Tinaan near Apo Cemex complex. Light vehicles can take an alternative route that will pass through the privately-owned Balili property in Tinaan,” reads an advisory from the city government.

The diversion route from Barangays Inoburan and Tinaan where the trees are situated cannot accommodate cargo trucks, buses, or heavy equipment. Vehicles to and from Cebu City must take the corner leading to the Inoburan Fish Port.

Naga City Community Environment and Natural Resources Office chief, Ma. Obdulla Lesgano told The Freeman that Naga City Police officers, as well as tanods from the two barangays, will man traffic during the clearing operation.

A telescopic crane and three units of heavy equipment were readied yesterday following a coordination meeting with concerned agencies and stakeholders.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, the holder of a special tree cutting permit issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, provided needed equipment.

“We have provided three dump trucks, one backhoe, two payloader, one loadall, one manlifter, one tadano crane, eight chainsaw. For workers, we sent 30 maintenance workers, three dump truck drivers, six heavy equipment operators, eight chainsaw operators,” said DPWH-7 Director Ador Canlas.

Cleo Colis, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, will supervise the operation per directive of DENR-7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo.

Deal

The provincial government, Naga City, as well as Carcar City and San Fernando town where other century-old acacia trees are located, will sign an agreement to replace the ha-zardous trees that would be cut.

Governor Hilario Davide III said Capitol will supply the seedlings, which will be distributed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources would facilitate in the distribution of the seedlings.

As required by DENR, each tree cut must be replaced with at least 100 seedlings.

Presidential Decree 953 also requires the re-planting of trees as replacement for those which have grown very old, are diseased, or are defective.

“Atong himuon, i-fasttrack na lang na nato ang signing sa MOA. Isunod na lang,” Montejo told reporters yesterday.

To complement this, Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said he will also instruct schools in the city to plant at least 14 trees in their respective areas.

In a separate interview, Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura said identification of timber areas in the town is ongoing.

He said that while century-old trees are covered by the town’s ordinance that preserves heritage areas, cutting of defective trees along roads that pose danger to the public is just ‘practical’.

Under the town’s ordinance, 50-year-old structures and century-old trees are already subject for preservation and are considered as part of the heritage.

“Kung finding sa DENR nga ang kahoy naa nay sakit, unya katumbahon, let’s be practical tingale nga ato na lang tumbahon… I will ask permission from the council pod to sign the MOA,” he said.

Last month, an 18-meter tall century-old acacia tree in Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City fell down on the national highway, hitting two houses and a junk shop. Prior to this, another tree fell on a hauler truck passing the national highway in San Fernando town. — /JMO (FREEMAN)