Cebu City Legal Office Urges DPWH 7 to Identify Personnel for Illegal Tree Uprooting
The Cebu City Legal Office (CLO) has formally recommended that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 identify the personnel and contractors responsible for illegally uprooting three trees along the Mahiga River. This action follows a November 2025 inspection report from the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Ccenro), which documented the removal of native bani, narra, and eucalyptus trees without the required permits during flood mitigation operations.
Legal Recommendations and Environmental Concerns
In a letter dated February 5, 2026, addressed to Secretary to the Sanggunian Charrise Piramide, City Legal Officer Briccio Joseph Boholst advised DPWH 7 to conduct an internal review and settle citation tickets or face immediate litigation. The incident occurred as part of DPWH's "Oplan Kontra Baha" operations, aimed at flood control. The CLO emphasized that while the project serves a vital public interest in flood mitigation, its execution violated Cebu City Ordinance No. 2623, which governs the earth-balling, cutting, and removal of trees.
Instead of pursuing litigation against the entire department, the CLO stated it was appropriate to focus accountability on specific operational failures and the individuals directly responsible for field implementation. Recommended actions include identifying the personnel, site supervisors, or private contractors who directed the uprooting without verifying local clearances, and conducting an internal administrative investigation to determine if the violation resulted from individual oversight or a breach of standard operating procedures.
Ccenro Inspection Findings and Remedial Steps
The Ccenro inspection team confirmed that trees along Mahiga Creek were uprooted during an ongoing desilting operation. They observed dump trucks and heavy equipment bearing the DPWH logo and noted that the walkway beside the creek had been destroyed, leaving the waterway exposed and accessible. Near the damaged walkway, the team documented two fallen native trees, including a flowering bani tree described as being in a "critical stage" of its life cycle and a narra tree partly buried in sediment.
To prevent similar incidents in future national infrastructure projects, the CLO further recommended that field personnel attend an environmental awareness lecture conducted by Ccenro. The office also encouraged the settlement of three citation tickets issued in connection with the incident by the identified individuals or the responsible contractor.
Ongoing Coordination and Future Monitoring
The letter, signed by Handling Legal Officer Ramon Mikhail Duyongco and approved by Boholst, stated, "Our objective is to ensure that national initiatives are carried out in a manner consistent with the City’s environmental policies." The CLO added that they will continue to coordinate with the DPWH regional office to monitor the progress of these remedial steps, emphasizing the importance of balancing public safety with environmental protection in urban development projects.
