Cebu City LGU says it has permit to cut down trees to make way for new cemetery

The local government of Cebu City defended its tree-cutting activity in Barangay Guba, saying the operation was covered by a permit issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

According to a report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, Cebu City councilor Dave Tumulak said the city administrator confirmed there was indeed a permit for them to conduct the tree-cutting in the barangay.

“Kinumpirma natin kay city administrator [Floro] Casas na may permit tayo para magputol ng mga puno. Tinatawagan na niya si Mr. [Raul] Pasoc ng DENR na siya ring nagbigay ng permit para makapagputol ng puno,” Tumulak said.

However, DENR Region 7 told GMA News that the cutting of almost 400 mahogany trees in the protected area had no clearance from them. The department has already issued a notice of violation against the city government.

The LGU cut down the trees to build a new cemetery, as the city’s public cemetery has been running out of space amid the rising cases of COVID-19 there.

More than 300 mahogany trees have already been cut for the project. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News