Cebu City halts tree cutting for housing project after flooding
CEBU CITY – The Cebu City Council on Tuesday, August 4, deferred a developer's request to cut down 32 trees and earth-ball 27 others in Barangay Tisa, ordering a fresh site inspection after recent flooding raised environmental red flags.
Councilor Joel Garganera, who chairs the Committee on Environment and Energy, moved to postpone action on the application filed by Arcenas Development Corporation. He called for a new inspection before the council considers the request, and also asked that the matter be referred to the Technical Infrastructure Committee for an on-site visit.
“In light of the recent flooding in the area and the location of the proposed development, I move to defer the endorsement of CCENRO for approval of the tree-cutting request,” Garganera said during the council's regular session. He added that the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) should conduct a reinspection to verify the current condition and existence of the affected trees.
The council approved the motion without objection.
Why was the tree cutting request deferred?
The application stemmed from a CCENRO endorsement dated July 29, which recommended approval for Arcenas Development Corporation to cut 32 assorted trees, earth-ball 27 others, and preserve one dita tree inside the proposed Arcenas Highlands Residences development in Barangay Tisa. According to CCENRO, the trees would obstruct the company's residential subdivision project.
An inspection report showed that CCENRO personnel conducted an inspection on March 13, after the company applied for a tree-cutting permit earlier that month. Inspectors documented 60 trees within the project site, measuring each tree's diameter and height before preparing their recommendations.
What happens to the trees now?
CCENRO's report noted that the lone dita tree possesses environmental significance and recommended preserving it while allowing the applicant to proceed with the removal or relocation of the remaining trees. That would be subject to the requirements of City Ordinance No. 2623, or the Earth-Balling, Cutting or Removal of Trees Ordinance of Cebu City.
The office also recommended endorsing the application to the City Council and requiring the developer to identify a relocation site for trees recommended for earth-balling.
Under the ordinance, any approved tree-cutting permit must first secure a City Council resolution before obtaining clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). CCENRO personnel must also supervise all tree-cutting, removal, or earth-balling operations.
The ordinance further requires proponents to replace every tree cut with 100 indigenous saplings. These must be donated to CCENRO before tree-cutting operations begin. The number of replacement trees for earth-balled specimens will depend on the provisions of the ordinance.
What's next for the Arcenas project?
The City Council will revisit the application after the Technical Infrastructure Committee completes its site inspection and CCENRO submits the results of its reinspection. For now, the 60 trees in Barangay Tisa remain standing, and the developer must wait for the green light.