A SPECIAL technical committee is set to convene on Thursday, November 9, to assess the condition of heritage and century trees in Zamboanga City.
The committee was formed after a heritage tree in Petit Barracks collapsed on Monday, November 7, that injured two people and partially damaged nearby buildings.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the primary agenda are the assessment and inspection of the condition of all declared heritage and century trees, the availability of monitoring equipment and technologies, and the measures to be undertaken to preserve the trees and safeguard public welfare.
Salazar said that the special technical committee will consist of personnel from the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Community and Environment and Natural Resources Office, Office of the City Agriculturist, and Western Mindanao State University-College of Forestry.
There are approximately 150 declared heritage and century trees in various part of Zamboanga City.
The OCENR reported to Salazar that the collapsed tree had a decayed root system, which was further compounded with unbalanced pruning and continuous rains. (Sunnex)