In a statement issued Thursday, DENR Regional Executive Director
Crizaldy Barcelo said 21 trees have been cut within the site of two packages of
the road project so far, covering an aggregate volume of 2.16 cubic meters.
Based on initial inspection, construction works will uproot 16
mangrove trees under package A and 196 trees under package B. The cutting of
trees was made even before the issuance of Environmental Compliance
Certificate, according to DENR.
“The DPWH has been advised by the DENR to refrain from further
executing the project and subsequent modification of the existing environment
in the project site without an approved ECC and corresponding tree-cutting
permit to be issued by the DENR, as well as appropriate clearances from
authorities prior to the implementation especially that the project site is
within an environmentally critical area,” Barcelo said.
The multi-million peso DPWH project of the Leyte 4th engineering
district office will link the villages reached by boat, and will cut down the
11-kilometer travel distance by land to San Juan, Naungan, and Lao villages in
Ormoc to only four kilometers. The project will be implemented in four
packages.
In a statement, the DPWH Leyte 4th engineering district office
said they will conduct an investigation on the alleged tree-cutting activities
by the contractor, considering that package B is yet to be completed.
“Based on the survey conducted, mangrove area is located at the
end portion of the package B. At present, the project is still half way towards
the end portion and only traverses on a swamp area with nipa plants,” said DPWH
Leyte 4th district engineer Lino Francisco Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said they are fully aware of the provision in cutting of
trees and committed to adhere to and comply with existing environmental laws
and regulations. (SQM/PNA)
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