By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
Tree-cutting activities linked to the proposed 40.62-km Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX) project in Manila have been voluntarily suspended by San Miguel Corporation, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) vowing to reassess whether more trees can still be saved through relocation and design adjustments.
During an interview on Wednesday, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the DENR agreed to halt cutting operations temporarily while experts re-evaluate remaining trees under the project’s approved plan.
“Gusto ko lang linawin, wala gustong pumutol ng puno, kasama na rin kami doon. Can you imagine how contradictory it is? So it pains us to also be the ones tasked (to cut trees). So masakit at mabigat na tungkulin ng DENR na mag-issue ng tree-cutting permits,” he said.
The tree-cutting suspension comes amid criticism over tree loss along Quirino Avenue in Manila, with concerns raised by residents about reduced shade and worsening urban heat conditions.
Sec. Cuna defended the issuance of tree-cutting permits, stressing that the project underwent environmental review and followed a structured decision-making framework.
He cited what he called the “mitigation hierarchy,” which he said begins with avoidance, where the agency looks at whether infrastructure design can proceed without cutting trees.
When avoidance is not possible, the DENR proceeds to minimization, which includes reducing the number of affected trees and determining which can be safely transplanted through earth-balling, or the process of digging up a tree for relocation.
Sec. Cuna explained that forestry experts evaluate each tree to determine whether it can survive transplantation or must be cut.
As part of mitigation measures, the DENR chief said all the 50,700 seedlings committed for replacement planting for SALEX will be concentrated in the city of Manila, such as in Intramuros, Mehan Garden, the former Post Office area, and center islands across the city.
Sec. Cuna acknowledged that tree cutting is a sensitive issue, but underscored the need for infrastructure development.
