FIFTEEN trees along the banks of Tejero Creek and Lahug River in Cebu City are subject for cutting by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to give way to the flood control projects.

City Councilor Jerry Guardo, infrastructure committee chairman, appealed to his fellow councilors to support the DPWH project by passing a resolution, which is one of the requirements the DPWH has to fulfill before it can start cutting the trees.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, he sponsored a resolution seeking no objection to the cutting and removal of trees.

Guardo urged his colleagues to agree to indicate that they want to solve the flooding problem in Cebu City.

He said the trees identified by the DPWH are still young and small.

The City Council referred the resolution to the environment committee for evaluation.

Guardo’s resolution states that the existence of the trees as well as the three-meter easement violation of some establishments delayed the implementation of DPWH’s river widening project.

DPWH, he said, was granted on June 28, 2019 permits to cut and remove trees by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro).

The barangays where the trees stand already passed their respective resolutions, allowing the removal of the trees. They also held public hearings with the residents. JJL