Tree-cutting plan outrages Iloilo residents

ILOILO CITY—Outrage over the planned cutting of trees for government road-widening projects has reached this premier city.

Residents have petitioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to stop removing any portion of the elevated concrete strip dividing General Luna Street.

“To widen the roads for more motor vehicles, the remaining greenery on the center island of General Luna Street is being removed and paved over with concrete. Soon, the trees that now provide shade and oxygen to our people will also have to be cut and removed,” they said.

The 1.7-kilometer General Luna is a four-lane thoroughfare stretching from the University of the Philippines Visayas campus to Arroyo Fountain in front of the old provincial capitol. The street, considered one of the city’s landmarks, has been identified through its decades-old trees that line the stretch of the street on the elevated concrete strip.

The city council and environmental advocates have raised outcry over the planned removal of the trees due to an ongoing road-widening project.

The DPWH project 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 as part of efforts to ease traffic.

But the petitioners said roads should provide space not only for motor vehicles but for walking, biking and the planting of trees.

“Given the choice, most of them would like to walk or bike, enjoy the shade and breathe clean air from the oxygen exhaled by trees. Are they not also entitled to public space and clean air as a matter of right?” according to the petition sent to DPWH regional director Edilberto Tayao.

Tayao said he had not read the petition but said that while the road-widening project was continuing, no trees would be removed until they have clearance from the city council and the city environment and natural resources office. He said trees along roads and streets that could pose danger during typhoons would be removed to prevent accidents.

Some of the signatories included professionals, nuns and students.

They asked the DPWH to turn into “green space” the area that has been paved over with concrete.

The petitioners plan to hold a symbolic walk and ride bicycles on Independence Day on June 12 along General Luna to dramatize their protest. Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas