AN INVENTORY of all trees posing imminent danger is up in Benguet.
La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, through Memorandum 146-2019, has asked the 16 village chiefs of the capital town to submit a list of trees that are dead, falling, or leaning and may cause danger to life and property.
"With the coming rainy season, agencies including the local government unit, are expected to make the necessary preparations to prevent the loss of lives and property during typhoons and other calamities," the mayor’s order read.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), in a previous meeting with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (Menro) in Benguet, asked for the conduct of an inventory on trees that are either dead, leaning, or falling and may pose a threat to residents and/or properties.
The village chiefs are given a deadline on or before July 31 to submit the list of trees to the Menro. All lists will be forwarded to the Penro for validation and possible issuance of emergency cutting permits.
Liga ng mga Barangay President and Councilor Charles Canuto said Tuesday, July 30, that all barangay captains received the mayor's directive and conducted inventory of the hazardous trees near residential houses.
"I believe they are conducting this to conduct preventive measures rather than waiting for the trees to collapse. In the case of Barangay Cruz, considering the type of terrain and slope, there are still trees near residential houses which poses danger," he said.
For the inventories of trees, he said "we have to get a permit, emergency cutting permit in the office of the mayor through the Menro."