BAGUIO Regreening Movement chairman Erdolfo Balajadia called on the local government unit to review the process of tree cutting permits for dead trees, which pose a danger to life and property.
In the weekly Talakayan sa Environment Code, Balajadia said "in times when we see trees leaning dangerously towards property, the question is how soon will the government act on it."
“Do we have a time frame in which to remove the tree from threatening life and property? I would like to go back to the City Council to appropriate enough funds for experts to help in the process of cutting trees that pose danger to life and property,” Balajadia said.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office advised the public to go directly to its office for the issuance of tree cutting permits.
Baguio City Councilor Mylen Yaranon said she has passed a resolution detailing the process in acquiring a tree cutting permit due to the abundance dead trees, which remain uncut despite posing dangers to the community.
“What we did during that time was to not go through with all the process anymore for as long as Cepmo would have confirmed that such trees are dead and would need to be removed because of it posing as a risk. Aside from this, what we saw was that even if this was monitored and listed as dead trees, the question was when should these trees be cut? And we would not want what happened to a person at Camp John Hay who died because of a fallen tree to happen to anyone,” said Yaranon.
At present, the John Hay Management Corporation has cut the dead trees within its jurisdiction, while an inventory on dead trees in need of cutting is being recommended by Yaranon.
“What we are looking here is the need for additional budget, and we will study our appropriations for the environment and we will do that even if we did not get the committee on environment but we retained our committee chairmanship for Public Works and public lands and public properties is still part of my committee and we will advocate specially on public lands with dead trees. And with Mayor Magalong I’m sure this will not be taken advantage of,” Yaranon