BACOLOD City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bacolod City Engineering District halted the cutting of trees along the sidewalk of the Old Airport area in Barangay Singcang-Airport here.
The cutting of trees was part of DPWH-Bacolod’s ongoing improvement of the sidewalk along Araneta Street from the Bacolod Public Plaza going to the area of the Old Airport.
It drew flak from the online community with netizens claiming that the move was a “clear threat to the environment.”
DPWH district engineer Jaime Javellana said they have a permit to do so. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued the cutting permit for the 35 fully grown trees along the Old Airport area.
There’s a need to cut these trees for the safety of the pedestrian and commuters, Javellana said.
“Kay kon mag-agi ka dira, malikaw ikaw sa kahoy, manaog ka from the sidewalk kay naga buka-buka na tungod sang gamot… manaog ka gid sa dalan so delikado kay basi gulpi ka lang maipit sang salakyan,” he explained.
He added: “Sa portion nga napang-utod kag wala pa nautod, nagabulto ang dalan kag nagadalagan ang salakyan. So basi makibot ang driver basi hinali mabunggo sa kahoy.”
Javellana also pointed out the hazard posed by the electrical wires in case of typhoons.
As of this writing, 26 trees have already been cut.
Meanwhile, the DPWH-Region 6 also directed Javellana to find alternative ways to continue with the sidewalk improvement project.
To note, the project – which kicked off February this year – costs P32 million including the installation of streetlights.
In a letter dated April 13, Rep. Greg Gasataya asked the DPWH-Bacolod to conduct an investigation in relation to the cutting of trees and to explain why such course of action was undertaken./PN
