Online petition to save hundreds of trees from road-widening launched

CEBU CITY – An online petition has been launched to save hundreds of trees in Poro town, Camotes, Cebu from being chopped down.

THESE trees in Poro town, Camotes, Cebu may be cut to give way to a road-widening project. An online petition has been launched to save them. (Santo Nino Parish Poro)

The parish church in Poro has expanded its online petition to help convince authorities not to cut down over 700 trees for a road-widening project.

From the original 1,000 signatures, the parish church and concerned citizens are looking to generate 2,500 signatures.

“Trees are indispensable for our ecosystem. We need a sustainable, well-balanced environment not just in the name of economic progress at the expense of the environment,” the petition said.

The online petition had 1,664 signatures as of May 16.

Authored by Fr. Joel Bonza, parish priest of the Santo Niño de Poro Parish; Marieta Gorgonio, Zandro Zurita, Jasmine Villanueva, Vigilia Argallon, Carlotina Santic, and Nathalie Jane Rosauro, the petition was launched last April 10 after it was learned that trees in five barangays will cut down due to a road-widening project.

The trees, which include centuries-old lomboy, acacia, and bangkal, are located in Barangays Mercedes, 
Esperanza, Adela, San Jose, and Daan Paz.

The church initiated a public hearing last April 27.

Various stakeholders, including the national and local government, residents, and the contractors assigned in the road projects attended the public hearing.

The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office has assured that unless the project proponents had secured permits, no trees will be cut down.