SCORES of residents in Magalang town expressed dismay over the cutting of full-grown Agoo and other trees to give way for the improvement and beautification of the town plaza.
Some of the residents claimed that the local government should have consulted the people first before cutting the trees planted around the plaza.
The municipal government had secured a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Central Luzon to cut 49 Agoo trees, eight Eucalyptus, 27 neem trees; and earth-ball five narra trees.
The DENR-Central Luzon stated that the local government unit was required to plant 100 trees for every tree that will be removed from the town plaza.
Municipal Administrator Daniel Xevier Lacson said the local government unit secured a permit from the DENR before the project started.
“We have earth-balled a number of trees and they were transferred to another location. It is unfortunate that we have to remove the trees to make way for the renovation of the plaza,” Lacson said.
“But rest assured that the local government unit will be planting replacements for these trees as agreed upon with the DENR,” he added.
According to the town administrator, the municipal council passed a resolution for the implementation of the project which was endorsed to the Provincial Board.
“The administration [of Mayor Malu Lacson] has always been very concerned with the environment that is why in her first in office, some 5,000 trees have already been planted in the town,” the administrator said. (With reports from Chris Navarro)