THE 20TH City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday requiring the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to secure a Zoning Compatibility Certification for all tree-cutting permits in the city.
Councilor Temujin Ocampo told reporters the resolution is to further protect the city’s forest conservation areas through compliance with the city’s Zoning Ordinance.
The Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) passed Resolution No. 07, Series of 2022, entitled “A Resolution Requesting the Members of the 19th City Council to Require the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Secure a Zoning Compatibility Certification for All Tree-Cutting Permit Applications within Davao,” last February 16, 2022.
“Given that Davao City has a duly approved Zoning Ordinance that clearly designates areas for production and areas for protection which should be observed by all public and private entities, the LZRC formally requested the 19th City Council,” the committee report reads.
The Davao City Zoning Ordinance regulates land use and allowable activities based on land classifications.
This item was then endorsed to the committee on housing, rural, and urban development (socialized housing projects) on July 19, 2022.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) urged the LZRC to pass the resolution to safeguard the city’s forest areas and to support its proposal to declare portions of these areas as Critical Habitat and Conservation Estates.
This was further strengthened due to past incidents in Barangay Salaysay, Marilog District, where these areas require biodiversity protection, yet DENR issued a tree-cutting permit.
“Such actions must be avoided, especially in watershed areas identified by the Davao City Watershed Management Council,” Ocampo reads the committee report.
The same case along Candelaria St. where the trees are identified is protected under the Trees Protection Ordinance, and Cenro only recommended trimming, yet the DENR said trees were already cut.
During one of the committee hearings dated Oct. 26, 2023, Mary Jane Cabactulan of DENR XI said that the certification from the City Planning and Development Office would be one of the requirements for the tree-cutting permit to be submitted to the Cenro.
With this, joint inspections will be conducted with the DENR and Cenro as far as the application of tree-cutting permits is concerned.
Mark Peñalver, executive director or environmental advocate, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, said the resolution is a significant step toward balancing development with environmental preservation.
“This proactive measure by the city is commendable, ensuring that urban growth does not come at the expense of the environment,” Peñalver said.
IDIS has long been an advocate for forest protection, recognizing their critical role in biodiversity, air quality improvement, and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather.
