The past week has caused quite a stir among concerned groups and individuals in Bacolod City. Some 35 decades-old trees lining Araneta Avenue were helplessly mangled to death by the parties and cohorts aiming for progressive development.

Trees are essential for life.

We grew up inculcating this important point in our lives. Until some of us come up with the chasm between progress and money and forgot the essence behind the thought. 

Our collective actions affect the space that we live in. The future of our planet poses a pressing concern as the years go by. Individually, we believe this is true, afraid of the dangers that threaten our chances of survival. What is saddening though is the opposing agenda that the collective ignorance can create.

The past week has caused quite a stir among concerned groups and individuals in Bacolod City. Some 35 decades-old trees lining Araneta Avenue were helplessly mangled to death by the parties and cohorts aiming for progressive development. These trees, including molaves, some narra species, mahogany, eucalyptus, and rubber trees have long been there, as a silent absorber of the noise and pollution of the busy highway.

But one morning in April 2021, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) mercilessly tore them down and appallingly, without proper approval of the concerned agencies.

The local government unit (LGU) was as “surprised” as the general public with it. According to the city, there was no endorsement made. According to the barangay, the permit was for clearing and not for taking down the trees. Questions led the finger-pointing government officials to the ignorant efforts of the DPWH and the silence of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

To which, the unapologetic DPWH replied: pagwapuhon ta ang sidewalk (we will beautify the sidewalk). So maybe we can expect magnanimous change along that portion of the road. But whatever the effort, it will surely leave a bad aftertaste in the mouth. No matter how grand the structure, the masses will not forget the lives that were lost there during the process.

But leaving the legal clamor aside, this event becomes a turning point to reiterate the government and the public’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Let us not forget the denuding forests of northern Negros that pave way to road linkages. Let us not forget the manmade resorts that are operating without permits on protected areas. And let us not forget the low-lying cities including Bacolod that stands in the line of the flood comes the onslaught of the typhoon months.

The Singcang trees are not the only casualties of the urban development projects. It came to light that there are similar standing permits for other barangays like Granada and Alangilan. All in the name of progress.

We recognize the need for change and development. But we should also recognize the irreparable damage that we are causing the environment on a daily basis. The DPWH said that for every one tree that they would cut down, they would replace it with a hundred. But how long before that hundred trees grow up? Or better yet how many of those hundred trees will survive to replace the one that was lost?

This world is far too clever and smart not to be able to come up with alternative solutions. So, it is quite outrageous to let trees die without a fight. There is a great promise in the collective effort that the community, the government, and ruling agencies can make. If we plant a tree, we can save lives. If we save trees, we can save our future generation. But what would the DPWH say to that for the sake of urban development?/WDJ