P’sinan gov’t hits DENR over permit to cut trees on road

By Eva Visperas

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The provincial government of Pangasinan asked the regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to explain the special permit it granted to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the cutting of dead and dying trees along the Manila North Road.

Board member Alfonso Bince Jr. Monday expressed outrage over the permit, citing a resolution earlier approved by the board, suspending any tree-cutting activity involving road construction in Pangasinan.

Bince said the agencies did not consult the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on the cutting of the trees along the Urdaneta-Binalonan-Pozzorubio section of the north road.

He said the board wants DENR Region 1 officer-in-charge Paquito Moreno Jr. and Emmanuel Diaz, OIC district engineer, to personally appear before the board on Sept. 28.