LAST week, while everyone was getting alarmed over the earthquakes rocking South Central Mindanao, the trees at Clifford Park in Roxas Avenue (in front of the post office) have been mysteriously cut down.
No one knows who ordered or is responsible for the cutting of the trees.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region (DENR-Davao) has denied that it has issued a permit for the cutting of the trees.
Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) founder Arnold Vandenbroeck said the park was the most visited park in the city due to its accessibility. Those who pass by this area of Roxas Avenue would notice that students would regularly gather here to practice or meet for a group project.
“Who is responsible for such dastardly environmental destruction in a time of climate change and global warming? Who let it happen? Who made it happen?” Vandenbroeck said.
Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga also raised the issue during this week's City Council session. She said since DENR has not issued a tree cutting permit, they still do not know who allowed the cutting of trees.
She underscored that if the purpose was to rehabilitate the park, there is no need to cut the trees.
“Let us not take our trees for granted. Kesyo kahoy lang na siya, pwede na putulon? (Just because these are mere woods, we could just easily cut them down?) No. At this time of climate change, need nato mga puno (we need these trees),” Braga said.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) has remained silent on the issue just like how it has been silent on the other environmental issues in Davao City. Despite our efforts to reach out to their office, we could not get any response from them.
There are barely any tree within downtown area in Davao City to give us shade or to keep us cool. While other progressive cities in the world have made an effort to retain the trees within the city, the government here has been busy cutting it down.
Why does it feel that the government is not giving importance to trees despite them saying that they are all in for sustainable development? Is the government not aware that the presence of trees has numerous benefits to the city?
It is sad that the downtown area of Davao City is becoming a tree-less urban jungle. If nothing is done now and if the city continues to allow the cutting of trees, the Davao City will become one hot concrete jungle.
We hope that whoever gave the order and allowed the cutting of the trees will be held responsible.
Councilor Braga is right when she said that we should not take trees for granted amid climate change.