DENR-7 exec urged to quit

CEBU, Philippines - Conservationist and running priest Robert Reyes is calling for the resignation of the regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas for allowing the cutting of 58 trees inside the Naga City Central School to give way to a government project.

Reyes described the cutting of the trees as a “massacre.”

“I called the cutting of 58 trees in Naga City a massacre. If there is Ampatuan massacre, I called this Naga massacre,” Reyes said.

The running priest accused Montejo of being “incompetent” and “immoral”.

Reyes said he, together with some environmentalists in the province, is now preparing a petition to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje asking the latter to replace Montejo.

He lambasted Montejo for showing “weak” position on the issue involving cutting of trees in south Cebu. He said Montejo, being a head of the environmental department, failed to defend the environment by issuing a cutting permit upon the request of Naga City Environment and Pollution Control Office despite having the “high” pollution produced by the industry in the area.

 “Montejo should have told the mayor (Val Chiong) that ‘mayor your city is very polluted. Perhaps, address pollution first before you build this P68-million track oval.’ That’s incompetence,” the priest told reporters.

“He (Montejo) is bad for the health of the environment. He starts giving reason for people to change the meaning of DENR from Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Destruction of Environment and Natural Resources,” he added.

Reyes said Montejo allowed the cutting of trees which are “sacred,” making the action “immoral”.

“For him cutting of tree is just like a cutting of piece of paper. If Montejo is Catholic, a real Catholic, he should remember his childhood Catechesis. God created everything, and everything God created is good and is everywhere. Everything we see reflects God. What do we see when a tree is cut? We see murder,” he said.

Montejo dismissed the call, saying he was just doing a mandate given to him.

“Yes, of course. I will not resign,” Montejo said.

“That’s the mandate of the department. To issue permit to projects we see beneficial to the community. It does not mean that we are going to oppose every project. There must be a balance between development and environment protection,” he explained.

DENR-7 spokesman Eddie Llamedo said the 79 trees originally included in the special cutting permit was already reduced to 58.

“The October 23 permit covers the 79 trees. But, DENR-7 and Naga City government agreed to reduce the number of trees to be cut to 58. With this, a revised or amended special tree cutting permit last November 7 for the 58. It means about 21 trees will be saved. This is to ensure that trees will not be removed.”

As of November 8, all 58 trees have already been removed. These include 15 agoho, 31 mahogany, 6 narra, 5 neem, and 1 lomboy (black plum). Those 21 saved include 17 mahogany and 4 narra.

Despite the call, Montejo said he does not see the need for him to personally talk to Reyes and discuss matter concerning trees in south Cebu.

Montejo believes that the running priest is being used by people with political plans.

“Gigamit ra na siya. Ang kanang PTA president who is leading the people against the cutting is a strong political opponent of the mayor,” he said.

Montejo said he does not mind that DENR is being dragged in the political issues hounding Naga City.

“I have no question on that as long as I did my best. While we are maintaining that we are taking care of the environment, we will not block every project just because of that,” he added. (FREEMAN)