32 trees to be cut for executive secretary’s Baguio cottage

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — At least 32 trees at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) compound in this city will be cut to pave the way for the construction of a cottage for the executive secretary.

The local environment office endorsed the cutting of the trees in a letter to Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Reiner Balbuena, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) officer-in-charge, said 32 Calindra trees planted under the National Greening Program in 2011 would be cut.

The Office of the President wants to cut and remove the Calindra trees and replace them with Benguet pine trees, a CENRO report showed. 

Malacañang earlier ordered PIA employees to vacate the PIA-Cordillera Administrative Region office, formerly known as the Cordillera House, for repair.

In an earlier memorandum, Deputy Executive Secretary Rizalina Justol said the Cordillera House needs major refurbishment.

The Office of the Executive Secretary said it plans to construct a multi-story building to serve as its satellite office.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines said the Cordillera House should be declared a local heritage site.

The house was the official residence of the late rebel priest  Conrado Balweg after he surrendered and signed a peace agreement with the administration of former president Corazon Aquino.