Plant 4K native trees for 4

Fallen acacia trees - DENR

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug 3 (PIA)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Regional 7 (DENR-7) has asked Shell Corporation and its outsourced construction company to plant 1,000 indigenous tree species for every acacia tree which they cut without securing the necessary permits and consultations, to give way to a gasoline station.

Contained in the recommendations of the DENR 7 over the incident that also dismayed the bishop of the diocese of Tagbilaran to expose the matter, is for the Forestview Realty and Development Incorporated, which is the construction company commissioned by Shell Philippines.

Shell Philippines contracted Forestview Realty Development Inc., to construct a gasoline station at the corner of CPG north Avenue and Zamora Street in Taloto District.

Purposedly to give way for the construction, at least 4 acacia and some bangkal trees were cut, in time for the holy week which possibly lessened the chances of commuters seeing the environmental crime.

To this, the DENR 7 through Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor, in his letter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, ruled that the construction company and the gasoline station project proponent have to plant native trees in exchange of every one of the exotic acacia trees they cut, to allow unhampered construction.

While acacia trees are not native to the Philippines and are introduced during the Spanish period, despite its competing for space and nutrients and ruining the biodiversity of a place, its giving off a shade and capturing carbon emissions for a cleaner environment for over a hundred years, is unimpeachable.

During a public hearing on the issue, City Mayor Jane Yap, upon whose jurisdiction the developers sought for a building permit said nowhere in their application did the site development plan include the cutting of acacia trees.

She added that the site development plan for the buildings include a big portion of the property undeveloped, refuting the claim that the developers need more space for the project.

Sources at the local Community Environment and Natural Resources Office said the developer was able to secure a certification that the acacia trees were planted in a private lot.

As acacia trees have been deregulated species, and being a planted tree, as certified, it does not need any cutting permit anymore.

The subject acacia trees lining along CPG North avenue , according to residents have been credited to the cold air in the area, leading to it being called Baguio Drive.

With at least four acacia trees chopped to the ground and its lumber now untraceable, the DENR 7 then orders the construction company Forestview and the project proponent Shell Philippines, to plant at least 4,000 native tree species in the DENR identified National Greening Program (NGP) sites.

With the purpose of monitoring the enforcement and compliance to the DENR order, the SP Committee of the Whole is passing a resolution, requesting the construction company and its project proponent to submit to the Sangguniang, proof of compliance of planting the 1,000 indigenous trees in exchange for every fallen acacia tree.

Moreover, to the SP, the DENR, which learned that the SP was mulling on an ordinance declaring all acacia trees planted along national highways, roads, and plazas as heritage trees, the natural resources agency said those acacia trees with a diameter of 1 meter or more could be declares as centennial and historical trees.

The proposed ordinance declaring acacia trees as centennial and historical trees is now pending before the Committee on Environment. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)