Wednesday, February 13, 2008 School cuts trees to protect students
THE administration of the Banilad Elementary School in Cebu City cut down four gmelinas inside the campus after it deemed the trees dangerous to students.
Strong winds brought about by typhoon Lando last Nov. 19 bent the trees.
Another tree was nearly uprooted and damaged the roof of the comfort room of grade 4 students.
Principal Jeralyn Rico said no one was hurt in that incident because students and school personnel had already gone home before the typhoon struck.
Rico had asked permission of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and sought the help of the City Department of Public Services to cut down the trees.
“DENR told me that if the trees posed danger to the students, we have the discretion to cut them down. Still, we don’t want to make decisions without proper consultation,” she said.
The trees were in a “pocket forest” area inside the campus.
“The cutting was done on Sundays to avoid disruption of classes. We hold a three-hour review class for the National Achievement Test on Saturdays,” Rico said.
Cutting the trees and clearing the area took time, she said, because they didn’t have a chainsaw.
Narra seedlings were planted to replace the gmelinas, she said. (NRC)
