BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here said they are ready to respond to the charges filed against them over the cutting of trees at the Old Bacolod Airport along Araneta Street.
A citizen anti-graft and corruption group lodged a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against officials of CENRO and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a radio interview, Engineer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, CENRO head, said the group has every right to do so.
The environment officials were only doing their jobs based on the mandate given to them, Gerangaya pointed out, adding that this was the first time a complaint was filed against him over the issue of tree cutting.
Gerangaya further explained that in 2018, Environment secretary Roy Cimatu gave CENRO officers the authority to sign tree cutting permits for the projects of the DPWH, as long as the documents and requirements are met.
Before 2018, only the regional director of the DENR was given such authority, however, they were blamed for DPWH’s delays on project implementation.
Gerangaya added that if they ignored DPWH’s request for tree cutting, they could have been charged, too.
Dominador Villaluna Jr., president and founder of the Crusaders for Justice, filed a complaint for grave misconduct, gross ignorance of the law, grave abuse of authority and violation of Republic Act 3571 (An Act to Prohibit the Cutting, Destroying or Injuring of Planted or Growing Trees, Flowering Plants and Shrubs or Plants of Scenic Value Along Public Roads, in Plazas, Parks, School Premises or in Any Other Public Pleasure Ground) and Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code) against Gerangaya and Engineer Jaime Javellana, district engineer of DPWH-Bacolod.
The complaint stemmed from the controversial cutting of 35 decades-old trees here to give way to a “sidewalk project”.
The move earned criticisms from environmental advocates and residents.
The growing criticism later led to the DENR calling off the planned cutting of trees along the old airport./PN
