DPWH Stops Cutting Trees Affected by Projects

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday assured it will no longer cut any trees affected by its road and infrastructure projects here in the region and all over the country.

The assurance was made by DPWH 7 Regional Director Ador Canlas before Cebu media at his office at South Road Properties (SRP).

Canlas bared an example on the road widening project it implemented between the cities of Naga and Carcar in the southern part of the province.

Earlier, a question erupted on whether all century old Acasia and other trees growing alongside the national highway will be cut off or not.

While the DPWH has enough reasons to cut all of those trees to avoid risk on human lives and properties, but the law has favorably took side to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR’s task includes nurturing the lives of trees.

Canlas favor the DENR for the realization of its road widening project, making old trees undisturbed.

“We avoided cutting those trees anymore”, Canlas said.

DPWH extended the road further to the side of trees just to avoid hurting DENR and the people who love those trees, Canlas said.

Those who planted those trees were not expecting what will realize in the area after reaching 100 years or more.

But according to Canlas, he already instructed all his men not to touch nor cut any more trees which are affected by DPWH projects.

“However if there are incidents when tree branches falls on the ground and hit passengers of a motor vehicle, then we are not to blame but to the people who preferred those trees to exist”, Canlas said.

The DPWH regional chief said that in all of its projects nationwide,especially in forested areas, they see to it that they are always safe in its implementation by always complying “what the law says”, Canlas added.