BISHOP Alberto Uy of the Tagbilaran diocese called the felling of four century-old Acacia trees in barangay Taloto, this city, is “immoral.”
Th Bishop said that even there’s legal basis in cutting of the acacia, adding but not all legal is considered moral.
“Ang maong pagputol sa mga kahoy ning panahona usa ka buhat nga imoral ug makasuko sa Dios nga Magbubuhat ug nahigugma sa iyang katawhan,” the bishop said in his message read by Fr. Warli Salise during the committee hearing of the provincial board’s committee of the whole presided over by Vice-Gov. Victor Balite last week. (The cutting of acacia trees was immoral and would irk the Creator who love his people).
The said committee of the Sanggniang Panlalawigan was digging deeper into the acacia felling mess that initially found to be it was the Pilipinas Shell’s who allegedly ordered to cut the said trees.
“Dugang pa niana, walay igong intention nga maka-justify sa pagputol ning maong mga kahoy sa panahon ug kahimtang nga adunay climate emergency,” he said. (There’s no justification in the cutting of the acacia especially in climate emergency).
Supporting his contention that it was “Immoral,” the Bishop said that the people are facing the global warming and climate change. These apparently caused the floods, stronger typhoons that added the burden and pain to the people.
He said that Acacia trees help a lot for the environment that is decaying and the province has not much trees because it is always hit by the typhoons. Aside from the storm, business firms cause the felling of trees for their buildings. The remaining trees should be protected, except when they pose danger to the people, the bishop added.
The Bishop lamented that the agency concerned which should have protected the trees is the one which allowed the acacia to be cut just because it is delisted from the premium tree species. These trees are part of the cultural heritage and lot of stories about these acacia trees that are linked or memorable to the people.
“Delisting should never be invoked as the main consideration for cutting a tree, otherwise the constitutional prescription of ‘ecological balance’ will be rendered useless. The 1987 Constitution is explicit in declaring as a state policy, to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature (Art. II, Sec. 16). In strict point of law, a “delisting order” is a mere administrative issuance of the Secretary of DENR, ergo, it cannot prevail over, or at least emasculate, the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The point is, while delisting may have its own scientific, technical or practical purpose in the realm of environmental protection, it should be complementary or supplementary to the maintenance and promotion of ecological balance.”
The Bishop said that by allowing the acacia trees to be cut “we are sending a very wrong, very bad message to our people.”
It’s like that trees don’t matter at all and they are not needed in the world. It is also like telling people that trees cannot help in global warming.
It’s like that “Walay bili ang mga kakahoyan. Wala ni sila kinahanglana sa kalibotan. Wala ni sila ikatabang sa global warming. Ayaw na mo pananum, gakapoykapoy na lang mo.”
Because of this mess, the Bishop is calling to all to have a moral appeal in conscience and those who are in authority and privilege to further protect the environment so the people also could be protected from calamities that is apparently the work of the greedy people. (rvo)
