Cutting of 1,033 trees in John Hay opposed

BAGUIO CITY – After protesting the planned cutting or “earthballing” of around 200 trees at the Shoemart (SM) mall compound here, environmentalists expressed alarm over the reported plans of the Camp John Hay DevelopmentCorp. to cut or “earthball” 1,033 trees here in theJohn Hay Special Economic Zone.

This as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority said the government-run firm will oppose this.

“The BCDA will not, in any way, allow any lessee or locator within oureconomic zones to violate environmental laws,” saidArnelPaciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer.

In a press statement, the Sobrepena-led CJHDevco reportedly sent to BCDA last December a letter that it wanted government to approve all their permits pending with the One-Stop Action Center (OSAC).

Ten of these proposed permits were fortree-cutting and “earthballing” that will affect 1,033 trees in John Hay.

The BCDA said only the Department of Environment and NaturalResources is the only government agency authorized to issue tree-cutting and earthballing permits.

“We want to comply with environmental laws,” Casanova said, “However,CJHDevco wanted us to exceed our authority by demanding that we approvetheir pending tree-cutting permits. When we did not give in to theirdemands, which may expose us to legal liabilities, they unilaterallyrescinded the contract and are now claiming an atrocious amount of P14.4billion from government.”

“We cannot be faulted for adhering to the rule of law. Gone are thedays of impunity. We have a government now that stands for integrity andthe rule of law, particularly laws that protect our environment,” Casanovasaid.

Casanova said it is CJHDevco that owes government P3.024= billion, and has used the pending permits at the OSAC as excuse to evadetheir ballooning obligations.

“What they wanted us to do may be illegal,” Casanova pointed out.“Now their flimsy excuse is backfiring on them.”

Recently, the DENR issued a cease and desist order for the cutting oftrees inside the JHSEZ. The order is based on Executive Order No. 23 issuedby President Benigno S. Aquino III on the moratorium on cutting andharvesting naturally grown trees since John Hay contains one of the biggestremaining pine forests in Baguio.

The John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC), BCDA’s estate manager inthe JHSEZ, said the DENR issued no permits fortree-cutting and earthballing despite CJHDevco’s demands.

CJHDevco’s demand letter showed the lessee required BCDA to“cause the approval of all the applications currently pending and overdueand deliver to CJHDevco within the same period, all corresponding permits,licenses and certificates covered.”

CJHDevco enumerated 15 permits pending with the OSAC.

Of these, ten were for tree-cutting and earthballing.

According to OSAC records, a total of 1,033 trees would be affected ifCJHDevco’s pending permits were approved.

Of these, 520 trees will be cutand 513 will be earth-balled.

Except for the tree-cutting permits, the OSAC has issued a total of89 permits in 2011.

Of these 89 permits, 59 were issued to CJHDevCo and itssub-lessees.

Ayala Land Inc. and other JHMC locators did not have anyproblems in acquiring their permits within the 30-day period.