DENR spearheads consultation on cutting of trees along Maharlika highway By Analiza S. Macatangay Thursday 11th of July 2013 TweetFacebookYahooEmailShareThis NAGA CITY, July 11 (PIA) -- The fate of the 651 trees lined up along the 6.7-km. road stretch of Maharlika highway from Barangay Mabulo in this city up to Barangay Palestina in Pili town will rest upon the outcome of an interfacing among local government officials and stakeholders from Naga City People’s Council, government agencies socio-civic organizations, among others. Camarines Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) chief Atty. Arnel Rodriguez said stakeholders have expressed their thoughts and views on the proposed road widening project pushed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), however, will affect or may result to cutting down of some 600 decades-old trees. Following the publication of the plan to develop the highway, Mayor John Bongat of this city, in his open letter to DPWH Bicol regional Director Danilo E. Dequito, has expressed his appreciation for the project citing its contribution to the city’s economic growth however articulated his deep reservation on the proposed cutting of trees to give way to the road widening project “While we do recognize the benefits of the multi-lane roadway, we cannot also set aside the aesthetic and environmental values the decades-old trees bring to our city as legacy of our predecessors and of various civic organizations and are held dear not only for the individuals and institutions they represent but for the present and future generations as well,” Bongat stated. Prior to the consultation, Bongat has suggested that the current state of the trees be preserved and just reserve the two additional lanes after the trees for bicycles, pedestrians and joggers. “Other alternatives for DPWH is to re-align the fund to the upgrading of the Almeda Highway into a four-lane diversion road. Almeda highway is new so there are no large structures or old trees blocking the right of way making it easy to implement expansion work,” Bongat added.(MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur) pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=861373340151
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 23:32:03 +0000
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