La Niña preparations start with 120,000 trees

CLARK FREEPORT—At least 120,000 trees in this economic zone have been prepared for strong typhoons accompanying the onset of La Niña, with several century-old trees undergoing surgery, an official said.

Rogelio Magat, manager of the environmental permits department of the state-run Clark Development Corp. (CDC), said 10 sick narra here had been treated with cement, sand and coal tar, and propped up using reinforced steel bars to halt their decay and increase their chances of surviving intense rain and wind. More are lined up for tree surgery.

The Acacia, kalumpit, molave, balacat, kamagong, alibangbang, antipolo and fire trees thriving inside Clark have been inventoried, Magat said.

Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu)  in October last year destroyed several century-old trees.

Clark began as a cavalry station of the United States military in 1902 and expanded as an air base. In  1991, the Philippine Senate rejected the extension of the 1947 Military Bases Agreement.

The CDC, which oversees the conversion of Clark for civilian use, enforces environmental laws inside the economic zone. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon