Leonardia orders probe on ‘tree-cutting’

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered an investigation on the reported tree- cutting at the old airport area that stirred controversy on social media.

Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 19 creating a committee that will lead the probe.

City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, who will head the committee, said they will assign several people to do the field work for them and other tasks.

Bayatan said their main goal is to gather facts to know the real reason why the trees were cut.

There is no timeline for the investigation but Bayatan said they will submit their findings to Leonardia as soon as they complete the investigation.

He said the investigation will not dwell on the cutting of trees beside the old airport alone as they will also look into similar activities in other areas, particularly along the Granada-Alangilan road.

Earlier, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bacolod District Engr. Jaime Javellana said that they have suspended the cutting of trees along the old airport here after it stirred controversy on social media.

Javellana said that his office received a letter from Bacolod Representative Greg Gasataya and DPWH region 6 asking them to stop the cutting of the trees.

Javellana explained that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources permitted them to cut 35 trees in the area.

They have cut down 26 and only 9 remain.

He pointed out that the DENR will not allow the cutting of the trees if they see there is no valid reason for it.

He said the trees are already old and not endangered species and are already hollow and pose danger to pedestrians and vehicles in the area.