‘Prune, not cut acacia trees’

CEBU, Philippines - The tree pathologist who was asked to conduct a “final” and “independent” assessment on the century-old trees in the City of Naga initially recommended corrective pruning, not cutting.

Final result of his assessment, however, would only be known today in an exit conference at the Department of Health-7 office.

Dr. Ernesto Militante, a retired University of the Philippines-Los Baños professor, looked at three trees in Naga that have been identified for cutting after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 found them to be diseased and could fall anytime, therefore posing a threat to the public.

Militante explained that while the base of the trees is being “strangled” by the concrete road, their growth and conditions have not been affected.

“Una, ang tinitingnan natin kung ano ba ang kanyang growth development. Ibig sabihin, ‘yong development ng crown, leaves, branches, we observed wala na man siyang reaction. Kung baga kung naapektohan siya, dapat yan nagye-yellow ang dahon, nalalaglag, at hindi active ang growth. Pero dito okay naman ang mga signs,” he said.

Because of what he saw, he recommended corrective pruning to improve the trees’ stability and balance.

He said that an unbalanced canopy would cause the tree to lean towards the road. 

He also recommended that dead branches have to be removed.

“Base sa aking nakitang indicators, wala namang rason na ipaputol ang puno. Kaya ginagawan natin ng paraan, ‘yong pruning, para mabawasan yang branches,” he told reporters.

“Makakapal ang dahon, mabibigat yon.  ‘Yon ang reason na kung may hangin na malakas, matutumba talaga,” he also said, adding that there should be a clearing around the base of the trees by removing the cement.

He further suggested that regular evaluation and monitoring should also be done by the concerned parties.

The Department of Public Works and Highways-7 had already started cutting the trees identified as diseased and must be removed; but the operation was halted after DENR Secretary Ramon Paje recalled the permit following continued protests by environmentalists.

Environmental groups had appealed that the trees should be assessed independently and not by any government agency.

This led the group to invite Roger Guzman, executive director of the conservation group Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern, to conduct the third-part appraisal.

DENR-7, however, declined to accept Guzman’s findings, and instead suggested that assessment should be done by an expert in tree pathology.

In an interview, Louella Alix of the Movement for Livable Cebu said that since  Militante is also acceptable to DENR, the agency should already abide by his recommendations.

Alix said it was Renz Come, Visayas State University college of forestry dean, who referred them to Dr. Mutya Manalo, also a tree pathologist at UPLB.  Manalo referred them to Militante.

Leo Remitar, DENR-7 forest management specialist, said Militante’s recommendation would still be discussed by the agency.

Despite what Militante initially said, however, Governor Hilario Davide III, on the other hand, said his position remains the same: that the diseased trees should be cut down.

“My position remains na if kinahanglan, diseased na gyud, and if it poses danger to public safety, then these trees should be cut down,” the governor said.

In an August 22 letter, Davide asked Paje to reconsider his decision recalling the special tree-cutting permit earlier issued to DPWH-7, arguing that the cutting of the trees should push through to ensure public safety and to promote general welfare.  — /RHM   (FREEMAN)