300 eucalyptus trees at Panaad Park to be cut down

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – About 300 eucalyptus trees at the Panaad Park and Stadium will be cut down as part of the ongoing  rehabilitation of the facility in preparation for Negros Occidental’s hosting of the 2021 Palarong Pambansa.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the cleared area will then be used as parking space for vehicles.

Lacson also said that the cut trees will be replaced with endemic species, which are more environmentally friendly.

He said the eucalyptus trees are not a good type of tree species as they consume too much water.

Lacson also said he has left the decision to the Provincial Environment Management Office as to what endemic tree will replace the eucalyptus trees.

“But definitely we will plant as many trees as we can to replace the cut ones,” he said.

Some parts of the Panaad Park and Stadium had been closed earlier this year as part of the major renovation plans which is expected to take at least 11 months.

The first to be closed were the oval track and the stadium.

Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved Supplemental Budget No. 1 amounting to P181 million which included the P150 million intended for the rehabilitation of the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said that the repair works would need at least P250 million.