Moldex tree cutting permit not issued by city gov’t

CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan Wednesday said the permit to cut close to 49 trees at a private property along Marcos Highway did not come from the city government.

The mayor sought to correct some reactions over social media castigating him for purportedly giving the nod for the felling of the said trees at the property being developed by Moldex Corp.

The Forestry Division of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) whose foresters are members of the city’s joint inspection committee also affirmed that the permit came from the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources and not from the city. 

Domogan also decried his being denied due process on the alleged case filed against him for usurpation of authority over the cutting of ten trees  in a private lot along Legarda Road last February.

“I would have been ready to answer the charges but what will I answer, I haven’t received a copy of the complaint and then allegedly the DENR central office held a presscon on the matter.  That is unfair as I’m being subjected to trial by publicity,” the mayor lamented.

The mayor said the ten trees subject of the alleged complaint were issued emergency tree cutting permit as they were certified to have been causing imminent danger as per investigation and inspection report from the members of the joint inspection committee composed of foresters from the CEPMO, City Environment and Natural Resources Office and a representative from the City Mayor’s Office and by the punong barangay of the Burnham-Legarda Road who issued a certification interposing no objection to the cutting of said trees.

Forest Technician Cristito Sandoval of the CEPMO Forestry Division who joined the inspection attested that two of the trees were dead and eight were leaning perilously towards a neighboring private property and the road where electric posts are perched as evidenced by photographs taken of the site.

Sandoval also confirmed that CENRO personnel were present at the site before the cutting was done and they cleared the operation.

“My duty to sign the permit was ministerial in that when the report says that there was emergency as there was imminent danger being posed by the trees, they followed the process and supplied all the requirements then I had to sign it because if I didn’t sign it and something untoward happens like the Camp John Hay incident where a student was killed by a fallen tree, then I’d also be liable,” the mayor said.

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As he counts his days before bowing out of office, Domogan Monday called on citizens here to put behind the excitement and hurt caused by the recently concluded elections and move forward by strengthening the teamwork and cooperation for the good of the city.   

“Now that it’s all behind us, we move on to continue to contribute for the development of our city that we love so much,” Domogan said in his address before city hall officials and employees during the flag-raising ceremonies.

“We hope that the election fever had (waned) so let’s not allow bickering and any misunderstanding that we had to keep us from working together  and instead make these as a challenge for us to continue to strengthen our teamwork and collaborate as members of the family of this city,” he said.       

The mayor lauded the peaceful and orderly conduct of the political exercise in the city which he said is attributable to the cooperation between the residents and the law enforcers.

He commended the Baguio City Police Office under Director Police Col. Allen Rae Co for taking the lead in ensuring that no untoward incident marred the polls.

Co said the city had one of the most peaceful and orderly poll exercises in the country and he thanked the community, the local government unit and all stakeholders for making it possible.

Co said there were no incidents of vote-buying or election-related violence in the city albeit there were 62 cases of violations of the liquor ban.

Domogan earlier assured incoming city officials led by Mayor-elect Benjamin Magalong of smooth transition when they assume their posts on June 30.