Religious congregation protests cutting of trees along Baguio compound

The Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reconsider its plan to cut trees along the religious congregation’s Home Sweet Home compound in Baguio City.

CICM made the appeal after the DPWH started cutting trees last week in the area supposedly to ease the traffic at Governor Pack Road. According to CICM, the DPWH is set to cut 36 mature trees, most of these pine trees, in the area. 

“We maintain that an integral part of Baguio City’s natural charm to local and international tourists as the ‘Summer Capital of the Philippines’ is the presence of pine trees,” wrote Father Jesse Hechanova, the CICM provincial superior, in his letter to Engineer Rene Zarate, the district engineer of DPWH Baguio. 

“It is for this reason that Baguio City is known as ‘the City of Pines,’” he added. 

Hechanova, former president of Saint Louis University, also cited the health benefits of the mature trees.

“More than the refreshing green sights provided by these trees, there are undeniable environmental benefits like the reduction of air pollution and the prevention of soil erosion that these majestic pine trees give us. Trees are the lungs of the Earth,” he said.

 “But we are saddened that the remaining green spaces are decreasing at an alarming rate. It is our responsibility to protect and preserve what is left of the green patches in Baguio City to ensure a sustainable healthy environment for future generations,” he added.

Father Geraldo Costa, who works as a counselor at the SLU Sunflower Children Center also located at Happy Homes, made a similar appeal. “Thirty-six trees might be cut to give way to a road project. Could progress respect nature and God’s creation?”

City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leandro de Jesus said that he has suspended the cutting of trees until further notice. 

“As of now, only 8 trees were cut. These include 4 agoho, 2 pine trees, and 2 avocado trees,” De Jesus said. 

He said that the cutting has been suspended pending investigation of the possible violations of the contractor. He said that some of the trees spared from the cutting had their roots exposed which entails remediation measures before the cutting can resume.

Last year, Baguio Representative Mark Go filed a bill seeking to impose a 10-year moratorium on tree cutting in the city, where green areas are disappearing because of real estate development. – Rappler.com