GOV. Aris Aumentado and Vice-Gov. Victor Balite ordered a thorough but separate investigations on Acacia tree cutting at Baguio drive, barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City.
This came after an uproar surfaced last week following Bishop Albert Uy’s facebook post, informing the people of the felled trees and urging officials concerned to step in.
The governor was quoted as saying that he directed the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) headed by Atty. Handel Lagunay to immediately start the probe and find out who are responsible of the incident.
The vice-governor’s order for an investigation in aid of legislation is referred to the Committee of a Whole of the provincial board he chairs. It was expected that the probe will commence next week.
Balite blew his top upon knowing and saw for himself during his visit to the place that the acacia trees were chopped.
“Isa ko sa nasakitan sa maong hitabo. kay kining mga kahoya, anha mi tig pasilong sa panahon nga seminarista ko.” (He told media that he used to take a shed on these acacia trees while studying at the seminary, not far from where the trees grew.)
He also directed his staff to call all concerned persons/agencies — DEnR, owner of establishment to be constructed, those who chopped the trees, city officials and others — who may be involved in the cutting incident.
NOT SUPPOSEDLY CUT
The said to be centuries-old acacia trees were not supposedly be cut, City Mayor Jane C. Yap clarified in her facebook post.
“Unya base sa site development plan nga gisubmit nila sa City OBO ang dagko na kahoy pwede ra unta dile putlon kay nasud man kini sa road setback,” the mayor said. (Based on the development plan submitted to the city Office of Building Officer (OBO), the said trees are not supposed to be cut since these are within the road setback).
The cutting off the acacia trees along the once Taloto’s Baguio drive to pave the way for a business establishment has generated public noise especially on social media following the Bishop’s expose.’
The mayor, who suspended the building permit of Shell for a gasoline station construction, said that the cutting incident is a “wake up call.” She added that cut acacia is a big loss to the Baguio drive. She said that the building permit was first issued prior to DENR’s cut permit.
She explained that the city will exhaust all means, including lobbying for a mandatory issuance of a clearance from the city before the DENR could issue tree cutting permit.
BISHOP’S LAMENT
“Dili gyud patas ang balaod sa ato. Ang mamutol og pagatpat dakpon; ang mamutol og dagkong acasia dili,” sayd Bishop Abet Uy in his facebook post. (The law is not fair in here. Those who cut mangroves are arrested but those who cut acacia trees are not).
The bishop’s fb post has spawned some 1.3 thousand likes and 20 comments and 508 shares as of 7:57 in Sunday evening.
Another post of the Bishop concerning the cut acacia trees gained some 1.1 thousand likes, 25 comments from netizens and 105 shares.
ANOTHER ACACIA UPROOTED
“LOOK | Laing mga dagkong Acacia Trees diri sa Baguio Drive sa Taloto gipangputol na. Kanus-a pa man tawon kita makat-on? Dili pa ba igo nato ang mga daotang telemad-on nga nagakahitabo karon? Gitawag ning lugara sa una og Baguio Drive tungod kay bugnaw ning lugara. Karon, puwede na ni tawgon og Disyerto Drive kay pwerti nang inita.”
(Look another big acacia trees in Baguio drive were felled. When will we learned? Is it not enough for us to know what is happening in our climate? This place is called Baguio drive since this is cool a place. Now it can be called as Desert Drive since it is very hot.)
HOTTER TEMPERATURE
The Bishop warned of more floodings, hotter temperatures and dirtier environment.
“We have more than enough Gas Stations in Bohol. More than enough. But, we are badly needing huge Trees (like Acacia Trees) because of the damaging effects of global warming and climate change. The cutting of 4 huge Acacia Trees is a big loss not only for this generation but for many generations to come,” he said.
He called on the government officials, legislators, businessmen and agencies concerned to act at once to be able to protect our environment.
“Kadtong dunay sakyanan nga aircon “livelier” ilang journey. Unsaon pagka-lively sa mga gabaklay nga wala naman intawon silay kapasilongan batok sa kainit sa adlaw.”
(Those who have air-conditioned vehicles their journey is livelier. But how it be lively for those who just walk since there are no more trees they can shed on against the heat).
