LUCENA CITY—Quezon Gov. David Suarez has ordered the temporary suspension of the issuance of barangay clearances for the cutting of coconut trees in the province.
Suarez issued Executive Order No. 29 due following reports of massive, rampant and unrestrained cutting of coconut trees and has directed the mayors and barangay officials of the province to immediately suspend the issuing of the said barangay clearance in the meantime.
According to Suarez, this step shall mitigate the threat of the number of coconut trees diminishing which affects the lives of farmers as well as the environment.
“The vast natural resources of the province [are] under immediate threat due to unrestrained and unnecessary cutting of coconut trees and there is a need to keep track and evaluate the percentage of those that still remain in Quezon as there are numerous validated reports of uncontrolled illegal cutting,” Suarez said.
He underscored the need to preserve the number of coconut trees in Quezon, considered as richest in Calabarzon in coconuts.
The vast plantation of coconut trees in Quezon is the major source of income of the farmers.
One of the requirements for the issuance of permit for the cutting of coconut trees is a barangay clearance from the respective barangays where the coconut trees are.
Suarez stressed the temporary stoppage would be highly beneficial to farmers and local government because this would assess the present status and update the remaining percentage of uncut coconut trees in the province.
“We must take this action to provide adequate protection to the environment, as well as , address, evaluate and update the present situation regarding its adverse environmental concern,” Suarez said.
“This will allow for the proper planning of coconut tree planting which shall benefit our youth and enable the provincial government to set in place the necessary measures to ensure the coconut trees, a source of livelihood of Quezon farmers, shall be protected,” he said.
In his directive, all barangay clearances secured for the cutting of coconut trees in Quezon shall hereby temporarily be suspended pending the assessment of the remaining percentage of coconut trees still uncut.
Second, all town mayors are directed to coordinate with the different barangays under their jurisdiction to implement the temporary stoppage of issuance of barangay clearances.
The order mandated the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office to coordinate with Philippine Coconut Authority and the barangay in determining the remaining uncut percentage of coconut trees.
