Council OKs resolution for BRT’s Greening Program

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on the city’s Greening Program as part of the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

In an approved resolution penned by Councilor Nendell Hanz  Abella, the Greening Program entails the massive planting of fruit and forest trees to mitigate the environmental impact of the implementation of the BRT project.

“The design of the Cebu City BRT project is seen to impact an estimated 2,182 trees in the course of implementation and is required to replace affected trees to ratio of 1:50 for non-premium trees and 1:100 for premium tree in order to be granted a Tree Cutting Permit by the Environmental Management Bureau,” reads part of Abella’s resolution.

The resolution authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign the MOA with DOTr which is the implementing agency of the BRT project.

During the August 15 regular session, Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Joel Garganera, who both expressed their reservations about the project, had abstained in the voting for the passage of Abella’s resolution.

Garganera said he is concerned with the road widening that should be implemented in narrow roads included in the route.

While, Garcia said the DOTr has issued a statement putting on hold the implementation of the BRT project.

“Don’t you think that we are jumping the gun here considering that the DOTr has actually put on hold the implementation for further review?  And also, if I remember correctly, because of the P6 billion additional budget, that will have to go to the 22-committee member board chaired by the no less than the president for its approval or not,” Garcia said.

Abella, for his part, said there is no formal communication from DOTr yet as to the putting on hold of the project.

He said the resolution is just authorizing the mayor to enter into and sign the MOA on behalf of the city government, adding that the city is just availing of the Greening Program.

Abella said DOTr will not sign the MOA if the latter will not push through with the implementation of the project.

Abella who is the chairman of the City Council’s committee on environment took the cudgel in proposing the resolution as requested by BRT Project Implementation Unit.

He said the city government has manifested its desire to support DOTr in implementing the project, adding that the 21.58-kilometer route of BRT project is currently subjected to the finalization of its detailed engineering design.

Abella said the Greening Program will also help in the reduction of the negative effects of global warming and climate change.

To recall, Cebu City’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Ma. Nida Cabrera disclosed that there are at least 197 of the 2,182 trees to be “harvested or cut.” Cabrera said the 197 trees along the long corridor with both a dedicated transit way and in mixed traffic segments have minimal chance of survival.

With this, Abella said DOTr has allocated P35 million as partial funds for the Greening Program of the BRT project.

“The Environmental Compliance Certificate under ECC-RO7-1211-0291 of the Cebu City BRT project also requires as a condition the establishment of a nursery with seedlings not less than 28,000 pieces and continuous monitoring thereof,” read part of the MOA.

Cabrera said the city will replace the affected trees with 350,000 seedlings and saplings for the greening project.

The city will plant 30,000 commercial fruit crops saplings and 320,000 indigenous and forest tree seedlings and saplings within the forest management areas of the city.

“The campaign for massive planting and production of fruit and forest trees will also help in the greening of the environment which have been affected by the rapid growth and development and reduce the negative effects of global warming and climate change. The uncertain impact of climate change posed a very big and real challenge in our growing city,” she said.

Trees to be planted include cacao, guyabano, coffee, lemoncito, forest, and indigenous trees, among others.

The project will start this year until 2022.

As of now, the city is establishing nurseries in Barangays Sirao, Taptap, Sudlon II, Guba, Busay,Tagbao, Tabunan, Buhisan, Toong and Adlaon.

Once in place, buses will traverse the city’s major thoroughfares such as N. Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, N. Escario Street and Governor Cuenco Avenue. (FREEMAN)