By EDWIN IYO
Correspondent
TALISAYAN, Misamis Oriental–The mayor of this town ordered the municipal police to investigate into the massive cutting of coconut trees here.
Mayor Rommel Maslog also called on the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to come and start its own investigation.
He said he was alarmed over reports that coconut tree-cutting has become rampant in some barangays in the town in violation of Republic Act 4048, otherwise known as known as Philippine Coconut Preservation Act of 1995.
He said only coconut trees declared to be unproductive or those that pose dangers to the public or are in the way of government projects may be cut.
“Kinahanglan atong masayran pinaagi sa atong kapulisan kung aduna bay ilang dokumento nga mapakita nga legal ilang operation sa pagpamutol sa lubi,” he said.
Maslog said that in Jan. 3, the PCA ordered a moratorium on the cutting of coconut trees for three months.
Joel Oclarit, PCA head for Misamis Oriental, said he has yet to receive information about the illegal cutting of coconut trees anywhere in the province.
Oclarit however said there is a road-widening project in Talisayan town that required the cutting of coconut trees.
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