People divided on road proj; cutting of 1,000 trees

By Liezle BasaInigo

POZORRUBIO, Pangasinan — Mayors in the 5th District of Pangasinan went out into the streets Tuesday joined by students and residents to support the planned road widening project which has been opposed by pro-environment advocates.

The so-called “Unity Walk” was led by Mayors Libradita Abrenica of Villasis, Amadeo Perez IV of Urdaneta City, Artemio Chan of Pozorrubio, and Mina Joy Pangasinan of Sison.

“Fifty-thousand vehicles pass along this road every day that it is about time the road is widened to decongest traffic,” said Mayor Chan.

The other mayors agreed with him that accommodating more vehicles in this route going to the North is essential to spurring the economy in the municipalities of Sison, Binalonan, Villasis, and Pozorrubio, and Urdaneta City.

But the project has been strongly opposed by pro-environment groups because it will mean the cutting down of scores, if not, hundreds of trees.

Activist-priest, Rev. Fr. Robert Reyes, camped out at the site of the planned project on the Binalonan road since Tuesday night in a bid to protect the trees.

Tuesday morning, Reyes was joined by non-government organizations in a walk to drum up support against the cutting of trees for the road-widening project.

Mayor Pangasinan urged Reyes to reconsider his stand by looking at the need of residents of Sison and neighboring towns that need wider roads to transport agricultural goods.

Pozorrubio is considered the vegetable bowl of Pangasinan. “A lot of these big trees are old and considered a hazard to the roads,” said Mayor Chan.