Cebu — The Cebu City Council has officially pump-braked on a sweeping infrastructure clearance request, temporarily deferring the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) bid to remove 113 trees along the Butuanon River. During its regular legislative session, city lawmakers raised serious environmental, procedural, and funding concerns regarding the proposed site clearing in Barangay Bacayan. As the local government balances urgent flood mitigation needs with strict ecological conservation standards, council members stressed that full transparency and guaranteed project funding must come before any chainsaws touch local vegetation.
Scrutinizing Environmental Clearances and Missing Funds
The controversy erupted when the DPWH formally requested council approval to clear 113 assorted trees to make way for a major flood-control wall and river-widening project. While the agency secured initial clearances from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources alongside a certificate of no objection from Barangay Bacayan, local legislators demanded deeper accountability. Council members flagged potential discrepancies regarding the immediate availability of allocated funds for the project, questioning whether the land clearing would start prematurely and leave exposed soil vulnerable to erosion during heavy monsoon rains.
Navigating Strict Tree-Replacement Ordinances
Under Cebu City's stringent environmental ordinances managed by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), any approved removal of public trees comes with heavy ecological offsets. The rules mandate that applicants must secure comprehensive permits, donate up to 100 indigenous saplings for every single tree cut down, and post substantial monetary bonds for trees slated for earth-balling. Environmental committees noted that out of the 113 affected trees, 67 non-native species like mahogany and gmelina were marked for cutting, while 46 native trees including narra and balete were designated for relocation. Lawmakers emphasized these rules exist to prevent reckless deforestation under the guise of public works.
Prioritizing Flood Safety Without Sacrificing Ecology
The Butuanon River remains a critical drainage artery for Metro Cebu, prone to dangerous overflow and flash floods that threaten hundreds of informal and formal settlers living along its banks. While all council members agreed on the vital necessity of constructing durable flood mitigation infrastructure, they maintained that engineering progress cannot bypass legal and environmental due diligence. The deferral gives the DPWH time to complete financial submissions and coordinate closely with local environmental officers, ensuring that community protection and ecological preservation go hand in hand.
