Davide Stands Firm to Cut Trees in Naga, Carcar

Despite recommendation from a tree pathologist, Gov. Hilario Davide III maintained his stand to have the affected Acacia trees in the cities of Naga and Carcar cut to make way for the development there.

Davide said next week, he will talk to Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Baltazar Tribunalo, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and the concerned mayors to discuss this issue again.

“My stand is still the same. Next week we will have a meeting with Tribunalo, concerned mayors, DENR, DPWH to discuss that,” he said.

The governor said they will also take up the recommendations of tree pathologist Ernesto Militante during that meeting.

Last week, during the exit conference with regard to the issues surrounding the century-old Acacia trees in the south, Militante told those present that the three trees were still healthy, thereby they should be preserved.

Militante’s recommendation runs counter to the intentions of local mayors in the area who pushed for the cutting to make way for the four-lane road network.

Those who are in favor are also afraid that these trees would fall down and hurt people, considering that they are already more than 100 years old.