ILOILO – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) acknowledged it has been slow in replacing the trees it felled to widen the national highway in Pototan town.
In Nov. 8, 2016 the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued DPWH Region 6 a permit to cut 5,182 trees of various species in 13 Pototan barangays covered by the national highway widening.
It was stated in the permit that 100 tree seedlings should be planted in other areas as replacement for every tree that DPWH felled in Pototan.
The tree seedlings must be “all preferably of indigenous species with at least one meter in height to be planted…in close coordination with DENR and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office,” the permit further stated.
But according to the DENR – and confirmed by Edna Mae Cañete, assistant engineer of DPWH-6’s 2nd Engineering District – only 600 tree seedlings or 2.8 percent have so far been planted.
The seedlings were planted in Aklan.
DPWH also planted 500 mangroves in Dumangas, Iloilo.
Of the 5,182 Pototan trees identified for cutting, DPWH already felled 2,013 – requiring the planting of 213,000 tree seedling.
According to Cañete, DPWH did not have enough funds to procure tree seedlings. The budget for the highway widening did not include the needed money for tree planting.
The high widening project traverses the Pototan barangays of Dawis, Casalsagan, Cahaguichican, Igang, Amamaros, Rumbang, Batuan, Iwa Ilaya, Macatol, Zarrague, and Malusgod, and Ledesma and Parcon streets.
Cañete also said DPWH did not have the “expertise” to plant tree seedlings and even sought DENR’s help.
“In future infrastructure projects that would entail the felling of trees, DPWH must include a budget for tree planting,” said Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office head Raul Lorilla.
Just this Jan. 29, 2018 DPWH asked DENR to extend the validity of its 60-day permit to cut trees in Pototan.
DENR regional director Jim Sampulna, however, said he would only grant an extension after DPWH would have submitted an affidavit of undertaking ensuring its compliance to the tree planting requirement.
“This (highway widening) is a good project. The problem is the cutting of so many trees. We are not enemies (but w)e have a mandate to protect our environment,” said Sampulna.
DENR suggested that DPWH plant tree seedlings in barangays Cahigon and Binolosan Pequeño in Calinog, Iloilo.
These barangays have forestlands needing rehabilitation./PN
