A COUNCIL summons is up for the Villar led Vista Residences Incorporated.
Councilor Arthur Allad-iw has invited Vista Residences Incorporated to the halls of the City Council in a bid to detail events leading to the cutting of 54 trees on Outlook Drive.
"We want to know if the developers have observed the processes in cutting of trees as mandated by environmental laws and policies, and if we could introduce legislations that would be favoring the environmental conservation," Allad-iw said.
The move was made to aid legislation of the City Council which includes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera, officials in Outlook barangay and offices in the local government unit to shed light on the cutting of trees in Purok 3, Outlook drive.
Allad-iw said the said Vista Residences started cutting the 54 trees on June 20 and 21 while the City of Pines was still in under quarantine.
"There is a strong clamor from the various sectors in the city for the city government to act on the cutting of trees, hence this resolution," Allad-iw added.
The real estate company is set to construct and develop a project in Purok 3, Outlook Drive.
The DENR allegedly issued permit CAR 58-2000 on May 4, 2020 to Vista Residences Incorporated for the cutting of 53 Benguet Pine and Norfolk in Purok 3, Outlook Drive.
In the midst of a pandemic, a Special Private Land Timber Permit was granted to Vista Residences Incorporated, allowing the cutting of 53 Benguet Pine and a lone Norfolk Island Pine and signed by Jim Sampulina, DENR undersecretary for Field Operations and Muslim Affairs.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said Vista Residences Corporation went through the process of applying for a permit since 2018 at the central office as the trees to be cut were naturally grown, following department orders mandating these to be facilitated by the central office.
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and developers on Thursday afternoon doubled the seedlings to be turned over by the Vista Corporation to 10,800.