Rama-allied brgys seeking tree cutting consultation

CEBU, Philippines - Ten of the 22 Cebu City barangays covered by the Bus Rapid Transit project have sought a public consultation on the proposed earthballing and cutting of trees along the route.

The other 12 barangays, according to Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Nida Cabrera, have expressed “no objection” to the proposal.

Some 2,182 trees along the 23-kilometer BRT route from Barangay Bulacao in the southwestern end to Barangay Talamban up north stand in the way of the project’s implementation.

“Ang 10 ka barangays want to conduct public consultation para sa tree-cutting or earthballing sa mga kahoy,” said Cabrera, adding that most of these barangays are led by village chiefs affiliated with the opposition Barug Team Rama.

Cabrera has been tapped by BRT Project Manager Rafael Christopher Yap to inform the barangays about the cutting or earthballing.

The barangays that have issued a certification with “no objection” are Quiot, Capitol Site, Talamban, Labangon, Kasambagan, Banilad, Kinasang-an, Sambag 1, Sambag 2, San Nicolas Proper, Kalubihan, and Duljo-Fatima.

Those calling for a consultation are Apas, Pahina Central, Mambaling, Lahug, Calamba, Basak San Nicolas, Poblacion Pardo, Basak Pardo, Kamputhaw, and Luz.

“We would like to inform that we are initially opposed to the plan of cutting of trees and we will be sending the result of the public consultation we will have in our barangay,” said Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman in a certification dated June 27.

Cabrera said no public consultation will be held in the 12 barangays that issued a “no objection” certification.

She said she was told by these barangays that they have conducted consultations already.

“Ang amoa nalang gihuwat is the communication sa 10 barangays nga mag-conduct og consultation,” she said.

Cabrera said she is giving the 10 barangays until next week to schedule the public consultation.

If she won’t get feedback by next week, her office will be the one to schedule the consultation in the respective barangays.

“We need to have consultation and get ‘no objection’ certification from all affected barangays kay mao ni ang requirement sa pagkuha og ECC (environmental compliance certificate) ug tree-cutting permit,” she said.

CCENRO is also assisting the BRT-Project Implementation Unit in putting up a nursery in 10 barangays for the city’s greening project.

Cabrera said her office will present the greening program during the consultation.

The national government will use P35 million in funds for the greening project, which involves planting over 350,000 saplings in designated areas to replace the 2,182 affected trees.

Cabrera believes that the barangays that want public consultation are apprehensive following the pronouncement by Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Chief Michael Lloyd Dino that he will lobby for the cancellation of the BRT project.

Some barangays earlier signed a manifesto expressing their reservation on the BRT project’s implementation. —/JMD (FREEMAN)