LINGAYEN –The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has called for the personal appearance of Engr. Emmanuel Diaz of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the question hour of the SP session on Monday, September 28, to determine whether all the 153 dead and 28 dying trees were already cut down without consultation with SP.

Diaz, the officer-in-charge of the 3rd District Engineering Office of the DPWH in Rosales, Pangasinan together with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) OIC Regional Director Paquito Moreno will be invited to appear before the SP to answer queries from the board regarding the issuance of a Special Tree Cutting Permit/Sanitation Cutting Permit for the cutting of the dead trees and dying trees along the Manila-North Road in Pangasinan.

Board Member Alfonso Bince, Jr. said that based on the permit issued by the DENR to DPWH, the permittee shall conduct meetings or public consultations with the local government units, private organizations and other stakeholders in the area to discuss the urgency of the tree cutting or sanitation cutting and other environmental and social aspects of the project to address any issue that may be raised.

However, Bince noticed that there has not been any consultation made by the DPWH with the SP, the biggest stakeholder in the particular problem.

Bince said he is not sure if consultations were made with the Urdaneta-Binalonan and Pozorrubio section covered by the MNR as these are bigger areas where more important consultations must be made with the SP.

In an interview with the local media, Bince said that if there were living trees that were cut, that would have been a violation of the special permit as he stressed that the act is a show of disrespect to the SP which earlier came out with a strong resolution suspending the cutting of trees whether they are dead or dying.

The DPWH and DENR have to appear before us and explain to us the basis of special tree cutting.

If they had done any violation, then they should answer to the members of SP and we will act accordingly. We will oppose any special tree cutting permit to be issued by DENR, Bince said.

Earlier, Father Robert Reyes who went to Urdaneta, Sison and Pozorrubio on September 17, condemned the resumption of the cutting of trees along the MNR despite the hold order issued by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje.

The running priest expressed disappointment over the non-fulfillment of the agreement he shared with Paje and DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson never to cut trees again along the MNR as he recalled Paje’s commitment to protect and preserve the remaining century-old trees along the area.

Fr. Reyes said the girdled trees were slowly reviving and the previously bandaged trees have began to heal but as tree cutting activities resumed without any notice, even live trees have been cut down.

This was attested by Women in Development leader Yolanda Sia that some of the trees that were recently cut were not ‘dying and dead’ trees.

Affected residents who joined Reyes’ protest were angered by the sudden cutting of trees as they were shocked to find that the healthy trees in front of their houses, which used to protect them from the heat of the sun and provide freshness and coolness, are now gone.

Towards this end, Reyes hinted of plans of a bigger protest against the cutting of trees with residents of Carnavacan and Rosario.

Reyes tied a white ribbon on a tree in Barangay Caviganan along the MNR and read a prayer that posed a warning that those who will cut his tree will face the wrath of nature.

He likewise called on Pangasinenses to join the “Adopt and Save a Tree Movement” and adopt the 500 remaining live trees by tying white ribbons around them to show that they are being protected.

He said that the white ribbons with their names on it will send the personal message that “if they kill the trees, it means as if they killed us.”

He said “there is a punishment for murderers of trees and it will not come from the courts, but from nature.”

Reyes added that the massacre of trees along the MNR was caused by greed of politicians and businessmen.