By Dennis Gorecho
The cutting of 225 trees along Quirino Avenue to give way to the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx) project has been described as “an act of ecological violence” and a “direct assault on the poor.”
“Why must ‘development’ always demand the sacrifice of the vulnerable? Why are our cities designed for vehicles and concrete instead of for children, workers, pedestrians, and the elderly?” asked Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, president of Caritas Philippines.
Bishop Alminaza stressed that the removal of mature trees will directly harm commuters, workers and families already struggling with extreme urban heat and flooding.
SALEx is a proposed 40.62-kilometer expressway featuring both elevated viaduct and shoreline sections. It will traverse portions of Quirino Avenue, San Marcelino Street and areas terminating near Roxas Boulevard, where it will connect to Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3. The Quirino Avenue segment alone spans 3.97 kilometers and will consist of four elevated lanes.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has approved the cutting of 617 trees to make way for the project.
The DENR earlier defended the tree-cutting along Quirino Avenue, saying it was legally authorized and subject to strict environmental safeguards.
The agency cited Presidential Decree No. 705, Presidential Decree No. 953, and other forestry and environmental regulations that allow the cutting or earth-balling of trees when necessary for infrastructure projects, public works and other development activities.
It also noted that San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is required to plant 57,000 seedlings in Manila under the memorandum on seedling replacement ratios to help offset the loss of the felled trees.
On average, most trees take 10 to 30 years to reach full maturity, although the exact timeline varies depending on the species, whether the tree is grown from seed or sapling, and local growing conditions.
So far, 225 trees have been cut down, including a 50-year-old narra tree, drawing criticism and protests from environmental and civil society groups.
“We refuse to hide this injustice behind bureaucratic language. What is legal on paper is not automatically moral in the eyes of God,” Bishop Alminaza said.
Trees play a crucial role in combating urban heat through shade and evapotranspiration, reducing local surface temperatures by as much as eight degrees Celsius.
They cool the air by blocking solar radiation and releasing water vapor into the atmosphere. In highly urbanized areas such as Metro Manila, increasing tree cover is essential in mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Trees intercept sunlight, preventing concrete and asphalt from absorbing and radiating excessive heat.
Beyond cooling cities, trees are also highly effective in reducing flood risks. They serve as nature’s original flood defense system by intercepting rainfall with their leaves, slowing water runoff, and using their deep roots to absorb water and stabilize the soil.
Their leaves and branches act like giant umbrellas, catching rainfall and reducing the speed at which water reaches the ground. This minimizes flash flooding and prevents heavy rain from directly pounding the soil.
Tree roots also draw large amounts of water from the ground, which is then released back into the atmosphere through transpiration.
As roots expand, they create underground air pockets and loosen compacted soil, allowing rainwater to infiltrate deeply into the earth rather than accumulate on the surface and overwhelm drainage systems.
A strong root network also binds the soil together, preventing erosion during heavy downpours.
Removing trees accelerates surface runoff and soil erosion, significantly increasing flood risks. This is particularly alarming in Metro Manila, where rapid urban development and the continued loss of trees have compounded the city’s vulnerability to flooding.
The removal of trees along Quirino Avenue further aggravates the ongoing decline of green spaces in Metro Manila.
According to DENR data from 2020, the National Capital Region has only 22.05 square kilometers of forest cover amid 619.54 square kilometers of urbanized land.
One of the remaining green sanctuaries in Metro Manila is the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines.
Canopied by hundreds of sturdy acacia trees, the Academic Oval serves as a pollution-free haven not only for runners but also for cyclists and pedestrians. These trees provide much-needed shade and a refreshing breeze, even during the hottest days.
One of the campus’ most photographed attractions is the picturesque canopy formed by tree branches from opposite sides of the road, creating a natural archway.
Many of these trees are as old as the campus itself. The acacias were among the first trees planted after the University of the Philippines transferred to Diliman in the late 1940s.
The current controversy could have been avoided had tree-balling been employed instead of outright cutting. Tree-balling is an environmentally friendly tree-transplanting technique in which a tree is excavated with its root system and surrounding soil kept intact. The root ball is carefully shaped, wrapped in burlap, and transferred to another location, giving the tree a chance to survive and continue providing ecological benefits.
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“Peyups” is the moniker of the University of the Philippines.
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Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com or call 0908-866-5786./WDJ