THE 20th Davao City Council approved a resolution requiring the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to secure a zoning compatibility certification for all tree-cutting permit applications in Davao City on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
The resolution was proposed by Councilor Temujin "Tek" Ocampo, chairperson of both the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Committee on Housing, Rural, and Urban Development (Socialized Housing Projects).
Ocampo added that while the resolution had been in the works for some time, it was only presented to the council on April 8. He explained that before the resolution was passed, both DENR and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) had already been conducting joint inspections.
He emphasized that when individuals apply for tree-cutting permits, they are advised to have DENR and Cenro conduct an inspection so that both local and national laws are followed.
"There should be a joint inspection so that we can harmonize local and national ordinances and ensure that no laws are violated," he said in a media interview on Tuesday at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The councilor revealed that the former committee chair’s failure to act on it caused the delay in passing the resolution. He explained that the resolution was placed under the Socialized Housing Projects Committee because housing projects sometimes require tree-cutting.
He said that the correct process for cutting down trees is for the concerned party to raise the issue to the barangay, then with Cenro, who would then bring the concern to DENR. The two agencies then would conduct a joint inspection to determine whether the tree is deemed for cutting or for just pruning.
In the committee report provided to the media, it was stated that the resolution aims to protect the forest conservation areas of Davao City from destructive activities and ensure that all actions within these areas align with the Zoning Ordinance.
This comes after a request from the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), which urged the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) to take proactive measures to ensure environmental safety.
The resolution was proposed by the LZRC on February 16, 2022, and endorsed to the Committee on Socialized Housing on July 19, 2022. It was then followed by a committee hearing on October 26, 2023.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Mark Peñalver, executive director of the Davao City-based environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), stated that the passing of the resolution is a significant step in balancing development with environmental preservation.
"This proactive measure by the city is commendable, ensuring that urban growth does not come at the expense of the environment," he said.
Peñalver expressed hope that the local government unit (LGU) of Davao would continue to prioritize and enhance its efforts to safeguard the city's natural resources and the well-being of its residents. RGP
