BACOLOD City Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chairperson of the City Council committee on environment, will submit his recommendation this week on the status of the remaining trees along Araneta Street, Barangay Singcang-Airport.
Lopez, in a radio interview, said, for now, there is no decision yet on the status of the remaining trees along Araneta Street, Barangay Singcang-Airport
He said the development project in the area was temporarily stopped due to the executive order issued by the city mayor and the clamor of the residents regarding the cutting of trees along Araneta Street.
He added in previous weeks, he also authored a resolution requesting the City Mayor’s Office through the City Legal Office (CLO) for an update on the investigation of the cutting of trees along Araneta Street, but until now, he’s still waiting for a communication from the CLO.
In April, a total of 26 trees were cut by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) purportedly to give way to the rehabilitation of the sidewalk via the construction of a footwalk in the said areas.
On April 14, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 19 for the creation of a committee to investigate the cutting of trees along Araneta Street.
Lopez said its part of the project of the DPWH of putting up the drainage in the area, but it was also stopped because of the opposition of the residents of cutting the trees in the area.
He said the trees' roots already damaged the sidewalk and posed danger to pedestrians, commuters, and motorists. The roots also affected the drainage system in the area.
If the project in the area will not be continued, he added that the city government should find a way to avoid flooding and accidents in the area and to ensure the safety of the commuters along Araneta Street. (MAP)