Itogon mayor wants cut trees made as coffins

 
ITOGON, Benguet -- Mayor Bernard Waclin sought the approval of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow the municipal government to retrieve trees that are being cut down for a road widening project here.
    Waclin said they plan to turn the lumber into coffins for indigent residents who had passed away.
    This will be part of the local government's assistance for the grieving relatives.
    The mayor said that once the DENR grants the request, the municipal government will hire at least three carpenters to do the job.
    Waclin said trees cut down from the road widening site are just being dumped.
    The local chief executive said the local government is still awaiting the decision of the DENR.
    Itogon is one of the five first-class municipalities in the province. It relies on mining as its major source of income.