These are the bushes in Poro city, Camotes Island, that can be affected by the highway widening challenge to be applied by the federal government.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Regardless of calls from involved residents and a parish church, the Cebu Provincial Authorities has given the go-signal to chop down bushes that stood in the way in which for its highway widening challenge in Poro, Camotes Island.
Nevertheless, as an alternative of the initially estimated 700 bushes, the provincial authorities and the assigned contractor have assured the general public that solely a handful can be affected.
On Wednesday, Could 22, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia gathered stakeholders at Poro’s city corridor for a dialogue in regards to the destiny of the bushes impacted by the continuing highway enchancment works.
Attendees included parishioners from the Sto. Niño de Poro Parish, led by Fr. Joel Bonza, the parish priest who initiated an internet petition urging the federal government to spare
Additionally current have been Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, and representatives from the Division of Atmosphere and Pure Assets (DENR) in addition to the contractor, Gonzalodo Enterprises.
In the course of the hour-long assembly, the contractor identified that that they had recognized not less than 724 bushes affected by the challenge.
Nevertheless, Engr. Anjo Gonzalodo clarified that not all 724 bushes could be minimize down. He added that these bushes have been marked with purple numbers on their trunks to point that they have been throughout the 15-meter highway proper of manner.
“Pero di pasabot silang tanan (724) pangputlon,” Gonzalodo mentioned.
Within the assembly, parishioners additionally famous that that they had seen two felled bushes in Barangay San Jose. The contractor clarified that these incidents have been unintentional.
Moreover, no bushes have been minimize down but, despite the fact that the highway growth has commenced, as they’ve but to use for permits from the DENR.
As soon as they do, the impression can be minimal, and solely these bushes straight impeding motorists can be minimize down.
Consequently, Garcia gave the contractor the thumbs up and instructed them to accumulate all obligatory permits as quickly as attainable.
“Don’t delay. Apply,” she mentioned.
Lies?
Earlier than the assembly concluded, Garcia and the parish clergymen engaged in an almost-heated debate about a number of subjects, together with the environmental disaster and the separation of state and church.
At one level, the governor accused the clergymen of propagating lies, calling their on-line petition ‘inaccurate’ when she realized that just a few bushes could be affected.
“Namakak mo… I’ve studied it totally, gone by way of the whole 13.4 kilometer stretch. Now, I can undoubtedly say that the content material of that letter, to place it kindly, inaccurate,” mentioned Garcia.
Final April, the Sto. Niño de Poro Parish launched an internet signature marketing campaign, calling on the federal government to save lots of not less than 700 bushes marked with purple numbers on their trunks from being chopped down for highway widening initiatives.
Of their petition, they added that a few of the bushes have been ‘centuries-old,’ which Garcia dismissed as ‘baseless.’
The highway widening
In 2022, the Capitol allotted over P270 million to enhance the 13.4-kilometer highway that may join the cities of Poro and Tudela on Camotes Island. The challenge consists of increasing the highway’s width from 4 meters to as much as 10 meters and laying new concrete.
At the moment, solely parts of the highway have been improved, with tough patches and a number of potholes.
In accordance with Garcia, the challenge has incurred a number of delays as a result of failure of earlier contractors to maintain throughout the agreed timeline and to ship high quality work.
In the meantime, the governor assured involved parishioners that the tree removing wouldn’t end in vital environmental harm.
“I’m simply as involved because the setting as a result of if we can’t protect the sweetness and appeal of Camotes Island, then we can be robbing the residents right here of future livelihoods of a greater life,” mentioned Garcia.
“However on the similar time, we steadiness as a result of we can’t proceed on a four-meter dilapidated highway which additionally pose dangers to the lives of those that traverse that highway day by day,” she added.
Sought for his or her feedback, Bonza mentioned they hoped the federal government would hold its phrase that the reducing down of bushes would bear the right course of.
Poro is a fourth-class municipality that kinds a part of Camotes Island within the northeastern a part of Cebu.
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