Tree-cutting protests delay road project

ENVIRONMENTAL advocates have raised an outcry against the planned removal of trees along General Luna Street in Iloilo City. The road is being widened as part of efforts to help ease traffic congestion. GUIJO DUENAS/INQUIRER VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Trees or better and wider roads.

Local governments should decide which to prioritize amid opposition to the cutting of trees in road widening and other public works projects, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas.

DPWH regional director Edilberto Tayao said projects, especially the road widening of General Luna Street in Iloilo City, had been stalled due to a lack of a categorical stand of the local government on the cutting of trees along the street.

“We are still waiting for permission from the [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] and the city council to remove the trees and replace them with palm trees,” Tayao told the Inquirer.

Environmental advocates and the city council earlier raised an outcry over the planned removal of decades-old trees on the elevated concrete strip dividing General Luna Street.

The opponents have insisted that roads should have space for trees and pedestrians and not only for vehicles.

They pointed out that the conversion of previously planted spaces into concrete structures had worsened or contributed to severe climatic changes.

The 1.7-kilometer General Luna Street is a four-lane thoroughfare stretching from the University of the Philippines Visayas campus to Arroyo Fountain in front of the old Iloilo provincial capitol.

The street, considered one of Iloilo City’s landmarks, has been identified through its decades-old trees that line the stretch of the street on the elevated concrete strip.

The DPWH project, aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city, involves the widening of the street by removing about half a meter from each side of the concrete strip to widen the road into six lanes.

Tayao said they planned to replace the trees with palm trees because their roots grow downward and would not destroy the concrete pavement.

The road-widening project has continued, but workers have avoided the existing trees.

Tayao said funds in stalled projects faced the risk of being realigned.

He said that under DPWH directives, trees that pose danger to motorists, especially during typhoons, could be removed.

These include those less than 3 meters from the pavement and a meter outside the right of way.

Major road widening and infrastructure projects are being implemented in Iloilo, including the 14.4-km circumferential road costing about P1.9 billion. The project includes five bridges and right-of-way acquisition from landowners.

Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue is also being widened into a 10-lane highway with pedestrian and bicycle lanes.