TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) authorities both at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) and Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) offices did not issue any tree cutting permit for the claimed century-old acacia trees to give way to a gasoline station in Taloto.

However, as the subject acacia trees (raintree) were issued a Certificate of private tree-planting registration (CPTPR), alleged owners of the private lot upon where the rain trees stood do not need a tree cutting permit to clear the site, despite the presence of the century-old trees, DENR authorities explained to the media.

This issue came up during the press conference organized by the City Government with PENRO Ariel Rica, CENRO Ellen Suarez and City Mayor Jane Yap. 

According to Yap, a gasoline station project which Pilipinas Shell applied a building permit for showed a layout that has the old trees in the project’s buffer zone.

Of the 3,100-square meter property consolidated from five lots, only 800 square meters have been allocated for the gasoline station development, said Yap.

"They could have pushed on without cutting the trees," said former City Administrator John Geesnell Yap during the press conference.

During the press conference, authorities revealed that while the project proponent is Pilipinas Shell, it was Forestview Realty and Development Corporation who applied for CPTPR for the acacia trees.

Forestview Realty and Development Corporation is a realty development and construction company based in Cebu. 

Suarez said the PTPR would then certify that the rain trees were planted on a private lot and would allow the owners to cut them and would only need a transport permit, if the owners decide to move the cut trees and its processed lumber to another location.

Suarez also informed the media that acacia trees, although they have been regulated like dipterocarps, have been deregulated by the DENR since 1992.

DENR Administrative Order No 46, series of 1992, which is the Interim guidelines on the cutting and gathering of narra and premium species by excluding acacia or raintree has delisted the acacia tree from the regulated tree species specified in DENR Administrative Order No 78, series of 1987.

As such, the cutting, gathering and utilization of acacia species, when delisted however is still governed by pertinent rules and regulations, such as when these are on private lots or public lands where according to DAO 200-21,  a Private Land Timber Permit or a Special Private Land Timber Permit (PLTP/SPLTP) has to be secured, prior to cutting.

The policy on Private Land Timber Permit/Special Private Land Timber Permit (PLTP/SPLTP) says no person, association or corporation shall cut, gather, transport, dispose or utilize naturally grown trees or parts thereof or planted premium tree species, inside titled private lands unless authorized to do so under a PLTP/SPLTP issued by the Secretary, DENR or his/her authorized representative.

In getting the PLTP, private tree plantation owners need to register the private tree plantation to the nearest CENRO or Implementing PENRO by submitting a certified true copy of original certificate of title (OCT) or Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Tax Declaration.

Then a GIS generated map of tree plantation would be included in the documents. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)