CEBU CITY – A private individual has filed charges against a construction company for allegedly cutting mangrove trees in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.
A BACKHOE is seen deployed in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City where excavation works have been ongoing. Several mangroves in the area were cut that prompted a private individual to file charges against a construction company. (Contributed photo)
Charges for violation of Sections 77 and 78 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines were filed against BNR Construction and Development Corp. which is based in Barangay Tingub, Mandaue.
The charges were filed before the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office on May 31 by Maria Priscilla Melendres, a resident of Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
“They should follow the law. If they are to cut trees, they should have a permit. In this situation, a lot of mangroves were affected,” said Melendres in a press conference.
Melendres said she filed the charges after she personally saw the cutting of mangroves near a property that she owns.
She said the cutting of mangroves started on Nov. 17, 2022.
At least three backhoes were deployed in the area, Melendres said.
According to Melendres, the cutting of mangroves was illegal as the company didn’t secure an earth-balling permit or special land use permit.
Melendres added that she also found out that the construction company was hired by the Mandaue City government to widen the waterways in the area.
Reporters tried to get the side of BNR Construction but did not get any reply as of this writing.
Atty. Julius Cesar Entise, acting City Assessor of the Mandaue, described the filing of charges as pure harassment.
Entise questioned the move of Melendres to sue the construction company when it was hired by the city government for the excavation works.
He said the excavation works in the area have the necessary permits.
Entise added that the excavation was done to clear waterways and solve flooding in the area.