DENR to Penro: Probe tree-cutting

Charges may be filed against people behind cutting of trees in Pinamungajan sans permit

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 directed the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) to investigate the allegedly illegal cutting of trees in Barangay Pandacan, Pinamungajan, Cebu to give way to the expansion project of the town’s district hospital.

DENR 7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo, in an interview yesterday, said that his office will wait for the result of the investigation before he would decide to file charges against those responsible for the tree-cutting.

“I have commissioned the Penro of Cebu to conduct an in- vestigation, and without those results then it is premature for me to call the attention of these people,” he said.

Montejo expects to receive the Penro investigation report today.

The DENR 7 had issued an order to the Dr. Jose Maria V. Borromeo Memorial District Hospital, through its chief-ofhospital Dr. Feleus Bascon, to cease all ongoing activities within the facility until its hospital officials can secure a clearance and permit to cut the trees.

At least 65 trees, mostly mahogany and gemelina, were cut down.

The DENR 7 warned that it will file charges against the hospital officials, contractor and other people who will be found responsible for the treecutting without securing the special permit.

“Cutting permit can only be issued with the clearance from our undersecretary for field operation. Now in the case of this activity, they just push through with the expansion and that they were able to cut (the trees) without those permits,” said Montejo.

Montejo said that Fedencio Carreon, officer-in-charge of the Toledo City Community Environment and Natural Re- sources Office (Cenro), will also be investigated for issuing a certification last Jan. 5 that “the mahogany and gemelina trees planted within the vicinity of (the hospital) will be affected by the proposed construction of additional building and need to be cut/removed.”

Lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella, Penro head, said that he spoke with Carreon and the latter reportedly confirmed that there was an authority issued by his office to cut the trees.

“Dr. Bascon is acting only in good faith. On the part of the Province, the cutting of the trees was done in good faith. Posible lang ang violation katong pag transport (the possible violation may be the transporting of the trees),” said Estella.

In a separate interview, Pinamungajan Mayor Glenn Baricuatro said he hopes that the issue on the cutting permit will be settled.

For Baricuatro, who pointed out that the municipal government has nothing to do with the project, there was an urgent need to expand the hospital because of the growing population of the town as well as those from the neighboring towns that relied on the services of the hospital.