DENR to make tree-cut rules over disputed road

By George Trillo

FERNANDO, Pampanga– Amid the uproar over the plan to cut some 5,000 trees along the 92-kilometer stretch of the MacArthur Highway in three Central Luzon provinces, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources stopped granting permits over the area and froze all permits issued on cutting of trees all over the country.

The DENR regional office here said Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza issued the order pending the formulation of new guidelines on tree-cutting “in the light of the global problem on earth warming and climate change.”

“Our technical men in the forestry sector are now studying technical, social, economic and environment-related issues involving tree-cutting and we hope to present whatever policy reforms they would come up with in a multisectoral consultation soon,” Atienza was quoted as saying.

At a public hearing here last week, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who chairs the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, urged the DENR to freeze the cutting and balling (uprooting for replanting elsewhere) of trees amid a P500-million project to widen the MacArthur Highway through Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

Thousands of trees have already been cut or balled in Bulacan, but environmental and other groups in Pampanga raised an uproar, leading to the Senate inquiry.

Atienza has banned “on an interim basis the issuance of tree-cutting permits,” but the DENR will still continue issuing earth-balling permits in areas where development projects have to be pursued, provided the uprooted trees are transplanted elsewhere.

“Atienza urged developers to re-orient their project designs in such a way that existing trees are preserved at all cost,” the DENR regional office said.

Forester Marlo Mendoza, director of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau, said he would propose ”several technical considerations as to when tree-cutting will be allowed and not be allowed, and when earth-balling shall be required.”

He said his proposal will cover special protection of “trees with historical significance like the Tandang Sora tree in Quezon City” as well as detailed procedures in the balling and transplant of trees under threat of extinction.

Mendoza said he will recommend that only trees with a maximum diameter of 25 centimeters should be subjected earth-balling.

“These trees should be planted immediately in an area identified by the DENR and should be maintained by the government for six months to ensure their survival,” he added.

Mendoza said apitong, kamagong, kalantas, malabayabas, molave, narra, and red lauan are among the trees threatened by extinction in Philippine forests.

Mendoza said trees classified as “threatened” are listed in DENR’s Administrative Order 2007-01.

Mendoza said his bureau will also include in the new guidelines the mandatory installation of placards and signboards notifying the public about the earth-balling and transplanting activities.