Ex-DepEd exec questions order to cut trees in schools

CEBU, Philippines - A former official of the Department of Education in Region-7 was aghast at the directive of DepEd-7 Director Carmelita Dulangon to cut down old trees in schools that are found to be hazardous.

The former official who requested anonymity said Dulangon’s directive violated DepEd order No. 33 Series 2008 issued by former Education secretary Jesli Lapus, which orders all public and private schools to grow trees like Narra, Molave, Acacia and Kamagong to fight against the increasing ill-effects of global warming.

The official said that under this order, Lapus spe-cified that there must be “extensive tree-panting, tree-growing, and tree-caring activities” inside the school campuses and neighboring communities and that existing  trees  must  be  protected  and  not  be torn down, to  which  in  contract  to  Dulangon’s order.

Earlier, in a radio interview, Dulangon said this was decided to avoid the unfortunate falling of trees which may potentially put risk to students and teachers.

She recalled an instance when she was still the division superintendent of Talisay City where two students were hospitalized after an old tree fell and hit them. She said she did not want the same to happen again, which is why she has ordered the clearing of defective and hazardous trees in schools.

Dulangon’s directive has already been disseminated to division schools superintendents in the entire Central Visayas, telling them to secure special tree cutting permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7.

DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo also said earlier that the agency is willing to assist DepEd, especially as this concerns the safety of students.  (FREEMAN)