For hospital expansion: 86 trees cut ‘without DENR permit’

CEBU, Philippines - At least 86 trees in front of the Pinamungajan District Hospital were cut allegedly without permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DENR-7 information officer Ed Llamedo said they have not issued a special tree-cutting permit in relation to the expansion project of the province-owned hospital.

“It means that DENR-7 regional director, Dr. Isabelo Montejo, has not issued any permit,” Llamedo pointed out.

Llamedo said Montejo will send a team of foresters to conduct an ocular inspection and investigate the tree cutting.

According to Llamedo, cutting of trees within a private property or public land need a permit from DENR-7.

“In this case, since this is a public land as it’s an expansion of a district hospital, it needs a special tree cutting permit,” he explained.

He further said that the permit shall only be issued if prior clearance from DENR central office, to be issued by the DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations, has been secured.

Similarly, Llamedo said the 1:100 ratio requirement for the replacement of the trees cut shall prevail.

“We’ll check with CENRO Toledo City if they conducted an inventory on the trees to be affected by the said project,” Llamedo said.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Capitol chief, lawyer Czareem Joseph “Chad” Estella, confirmed the cutting of the 86 trees allegedly with DENR’s permit.

Estella said the permit was issued by DENR according to Venus Atillo of Pinamungajan District Hospital.

Estella said CENRO-Toledo City chief Fedencio Carreon authorized the tree cutting, saying the trees, which included G-melina and mahogany, are deregulated ones.

“DENR knows best, it is within their mandate to approve or disapprove any application to cut,” said Pinamungajan Mayor Glenn Baricuatro when sought for comment. — Gregg M. Rubio/NSA (FREEMAN)