BAGUIO CITY – Some thirty two live trees that were planted within the compound of the Philippine Information Agency – Cordillera Administrative Region (PIA-CAR) compound in barangay Lualhati will be cut by the Office of the President to pave the way for the reported construction of a building that will house the offices and cottage of the Executive Secretary.
However, the cutting of the trees will take some time considering that the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in the city requested the local government for the issuance of the required clearance for the processing of the permit that will be issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the eventual cutting of the trees by the office of the President for the realization of its project.
Based on an investigation report relation to the request of Engr. Carlota A. Pauly, Director IV, Mansion House, for the cutting of 27 live trees within the PIA-CAR compound, the CENRO found out that the trees being applied for a cutting permit are located within the PIA-CAR compound which is a property of the Office of the President.
As per ocular inspection of the requested trees to be cut, the CENR found out that the tree species to be cut are caliandra trees that were planted by the PIA-CAR staff and registered as the site of their compliance to the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) in 2011.
According to the report, there were 27 trees that were requested to be cut but the actual number with paint to be cut by the office of the President was 32 trees with diameters ranging from 6 to 8 centimeters with estimated height of 2 to 4 meters.
The CENRO cited in its report that according to a staff of the Mansion House, the office of the President wants to remove and cut the caliandra trees to be replaced with Benguet pine trees.
Further, the CENRO recommended that thinning of the existing trees will be done at the same time planting of Benguet pine species shall be made to preserve the trees pursuant to existing DENR laws, rules and regulations.
Earlier, the CENRO was directed by the DENR-CAR regional office to conduct an inventory of the live trees that had been requested by Mansion House management to be cut in coordination with the applicant and submit the required report together with the mandatory requirements as basis for further action on the request.
Under existing DENR laws, rules and regulations, applicants for the issuance of tree cutting permits for more than 10 trees are required to secure the necessary clearance from the concerned local chief executive prior to the issuance of the required permits for the purpose by the agency.
The PIA-CAR has been given an ultimatum up to the end of this month to vacate the Cordillera House which is serving as its office and media center to allow the office of the Executive Secretary to implement its project of putting up a building that will accommodate its offices and cottages for the extension of the services of the office of the President not only in the city but also in the whole region.
By HENT
That “secretary” is one hell of an arrogant, careless piece of cr*p who obviously has no regard for the locals and their concern for the environment. The city needs more trees, not ugly concrete boxes made for the powerful and wealthy. I am very disappointed with this endeavor.