M’daue moves to save century-old trees.

By Tweeny Malinao, Correspondent, Cebu Daily News
February 5, 2012

The Mandaue city government is trying to identify and preserve century-old and heritage trees especially in urban areas amid the city’s rapid industrialization.

“The trees will always complement the city, no matter how big or how progressive the city becomes,” said City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas.

Lumapas started the campaign rolling when he sponsored the Century and Heritage Trees Ordinance of 2011, which was passed in August 2011.

Lumapas said he wanted to prevent the “indiscriminate cutting” of old trees and avoid the situation in Carcar and Naga cities in south Cebu where road-widening projects threaten to destroy pre-war trees lining the road.

“I doubt if there are heritage trees left in Mandaue. Just a few maybe, so we passed an ordinance to preserve those remaining,” he said.

The ordinance says it aims to conserving ecosystems and genetic resources, while meeting the needs of the people for forestry products in a sustainable manner and to promote social justice.

But implementing the ordinance remains a tall order. Implementing rules are still being reviewed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

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