PILI, Camarines Sur—Unlike in Naga City, residents of this capital town favor cutting hundreds of trees along their highway to pave the way for the four-lane road expansion project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) .
At the conclusion of public hearings with local stakeholders, Pili local government administrator Bernard E. Estadilla told newsmen on Friday (Sept.27) that no oppositions have emerged against the proposed highway expansion project to be implemented in the last quarter of the year covering villages of Palestina, Cadlan and San Jose -- all along the Maharlika highway.
Along the 4-kilometer Pili stretch of the national highway, 760 mature trees of various variety have to be uprooted to expand the road by additional 20 meters.
During the public consultation with Pili residents initiated by the DPWH regional office, DPWH Asst. regional director Ronnel M. Tan announced that P100-Million is earmarked for the Pili Highway expansion. This is separate from P100- Million allocated for the Naga phase of the project.
Estadilla said that while not opposing the road expansion and their impending dislocation, informal settlers in barangay Palestina and San Jose have asked the local government that they be given viable relocation sites.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) officer for Camarines Sur Arnel Rodriguez said that before the DENR finally gives permit to DPWH to cut the 760 trees, the DENR has to get unequivocal public consensus favoring the cutting of the trees.
Earlier, Rodriguez refused to issue cutting permits after environmental groups and the Naga City government’s People’s Council thumbed down the idea of cutting down 651 mature trees along barangay Del Rosario in Naga during a public consultation held in July this year.
The national highway expansion project is strongly favored by Pili Mayor Alexis San Luis II because the capital town is fast becoming a favorite site for big industrial “relocators.”
Giant motor firms like Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda and Isuzu have built their own edifices along the national highway, designed for vehicle assembly and product displays.
The Marasigan estate in barangay Sagurong is also fast becoming a huge agro-industrial site where giant warehouse facilities have sprouted. (SONNY SALES)