E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 26 of 40 http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/65160 Expansion Project correctly belonged in, and whether their locational clearances were validly issjued, should have been raised before the agency. V Private respondents do not deny that they did not apply for a new environmental compliance certificate prior to cutting or earth-balling the affected trees. Nonetheless, they argue that a separate environmental compliance certificate was not needed because their amended Environmental Compliance Certificate already covered the planned tree-cutting and earth-balling. What was required, they claim, was a tree-cutting and/or earth-balling permit, which they secured prior to the operations.[133] Private respondents are mistaken. In the Environmental Impact Statement,[134] submitted to support private respondents' application for an environmental compliance certificate for the SM Pines Resort Project, the project's construction phase saw the removal "of about 112 trees or 16.54% of the total number of major trees"[135] from the proposed building site. Private respondents admitted that the removal of these trees will have "[m]edium, negative[,] and long term"[136] impact and proposed the following mitigation measures: The proposed structures will be located in the central area of the property where tree density is lower. The building sites and shapes have been laid out and adjusted to minimize the requirement to remove mature trees. If it is possible to relocate smaller trees in a practical manner with a reasonable degree of success, they will be relocated. Trees that need to be removed will be cut in accordance with City and DENR regulations. Each tree cut will be replaced with at least 10 seedlings. Location for seedling planting will be coordinated with the Baguio Regreening Movement and the City Government and DENR. Enhancement of vegetation around the building through landscaping. Trees can be planted around the buildings to replace the cut trees and to fill in gaps. Ornamental plants can also be planted in the gardens to augment existing ones. The landscaping will therefore enhance the existing vegetation and bring the customers closer to nature.[137] On September 13, 2001, the Regional Executive Director of the Department of 4/23/2020, 10:52 AM