Trees spared in Biliran town road widening project

Biliran map

TACLOBAN CITY — At least 80 Indian trees planted along a highway in Almeria town, Biliran province were saved from being cut down as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) started its road-widening project.

Engr. Ferdinand Briones of the Biliran Engineering District Office, in a statement last week, said the relocation of the trees, through earth-balling, is considered to be environment-friendly as it involves digging out the roots in a circular shape, leaving most of the root system undisturbed and intact.

“Although this is not our field of expertise, we are doing our best in preserving these trees that stood firmly through the tests of time, reflecting the very people of the municipality of Almeria,” he said.

“We are optimistic that the said relocated trees will flourish in their new location,” he added.

The road widening project started last March 29 and was set to be completed on October 14.

According to Briones, they coordinated with the local government of Almeria to relocate the trees with assistance from the contractor E.G. Canabe Construction.

The earth-balling of trees began last June 4.

Residents of Almeria town, 123.6 km away from Tacloban City, sought to preserve these Indian trees.

Aside from aesthetic purposes, the Indian trees, they said, also helped them during calamities.

For one, when Typhoon Urduja hit the town in 2017, the trees on both sides of the road served as a guide for rescuers during the flood.

The road-widening project in Almeria town was implemented from Sitio Pitugohan, Barangay Jamorawon to Barangay Poblacion, with a length of 2.612 lane kilometers.

The project’s cost was pegged at P33.07 million.

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