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DPWH denies cutting trees for road widening

By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) second engineering district chief Engr. Mathias Malenab strongly denied the allegations that his office cut century-old trees along national roads in Currimao and Badoc.

In a press conference at the DPWH 2nd district engineering office recently, Mr. Malenab vehemently denied the said allegations spread through text messages, and which has even reached Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos.

Mr. Malenab stressed that DPWH 2nd engineering district personnel are environment-friendly and as of that time have not cut any tree along the national roads in Currimao and Badoc.

However, he also admitted that they have requested for a permit as well as information from the mayors of Currimao and Badoc, Ms. Marcos and the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources for the trees that may be affected by the road-widening project.

He disclosed that the community environment and natural resources office (CENRO) and the provincial government’s environment and natural resources office have inspected the areas requested and has approved the cutting of trees for the road-widening project, provided the DPWH obtain all the necessary permit.

Among the permits needed, according to Mr. Malenab, consists of resolutions from barangay councils and local government units to be affected with the approval of the governor and to be submitted to the DPWH central office for certification.

Those permits, Mr. Malenab said, will become the basis for the DENT to issue tree-cutting permit.

“Until and unless we have the permit that will be the time we [will] cut those trees. But at this point in time, wala pa po kaming pinutol na punong kahoy,” Mr. Malenab said.

He also assured the public that no trees will be cut without the DENR’s permit.

Based on the DPWH inventory, the trees that may cut for the project are those within the right of way of national roads.

Isipin niyo naman iyong hazard or danger it will cause na sa kalsada mayroong punong kahoy at ito pa ang isang rason kung bakit may mga nadidisgrasya kaya dapat lang na matanggal ang mga ito,” Mr. Malenab said.

Mr. Malenab however vowed that for every one tree that will be cut or removed, his office will replace it with 100 seedlings.

From the existing national roads, Mr. Malenab 3.35 meters are needed for both sides in the road-widening project.

Meanwhile, Mr. Malenab announced that the DPWH thru the initiative of Sec. Rogelio Singson extended its help to heirs of the one “SAF 44”. The assistance was given to an elder brother of PO2 Omar Nacionales, a native of Marcos, Ilocos Norte.

The brother is identified as Rajiv Nacionales, who earlier stopped his college education when he was a third year civil engineering student. He was hired as an “engineering aide” at the second engineering district and started working on Feb. 16, 2015.


Mr. Malenab is hopeful this would help the family of the late Mr. Nacionales.

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