Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Residents along Quirino Avenue in Manila are mourning the loss of decades-old trees cut down to make way for an infrastructure project, saying the trees provided not only shade and cooler air, but also protection from flooding and relief from the intense heat.Several large trees along the avenue have already been cut or prepared for relocation as part of the construction of the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX), a project that will connect the Skyway to Roxas Boulevard. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), over 600 trees estimated to be affected by the development.Along some portions of the road, residents now walk under direct sunlight where thick canopies once provided shade.Tree stumps covered with tarpaulins line parts of the sidewalk, a sight many residents described as painful to witness.For Melba Dela Cerna who owns a small store along Quirino Avenue, the disappearance of the trees has already affected daily life and income. Her store used to attract motorcycle riders who would gather beneath the shade. But after the trees were cut, customers stopped staying in the area because of the scorching heat.“Sobrang matumal na. Wala na akong benta. Dati 1,500 ang benta ko. Ngayon mga 300 na lang ang benta ko,” Dela Cerna said. “Nalungkot ako kasi wala nang tambayan yung mga driver, wala na yung mga dating suki ko,” she said.Residents also fear the environmental consequences of losing mature trees in an already flood-prone area.Janica Lumactod said the trees help absorb excess rainwater whenever flooding occurs along Quirino Avenue. Without them, she worries floodwaters could worsen.“Pag pinutol ito, walang tutulong na humigop ng baha. Mas lalong tataas ang baha dito pag nawala,” she said.Her concern is supported by government data. Flood hazard maps from HazardHunterPH show that areas along the project route range from low to moderate flood susceptibility.DENR-NCR Assistant Regional Director Engr. Henry Pacis acknowledged the public’s concerns but said the project is intended to address worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.“As you know, traffic is something that we are all burdened [with] and it&#x27;s going to get worse kapag hindi tayo gumawa ng paraan,” Pacis said, adding that the environmental impact is “somehow the price we have to pay.”The DENR said San Miguel Corporation, which is behind the project, is required to provide 57,000 seedlings that will be planted in three areas in Manila as replacement for the trees that will be cut or relocated.But forestry experts say replacing mature trees is not as simple as planting new seedlings. Dr. Dixon Gevaña, director of the Forestry Development Center of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, said urban planning should prioritize trees with long-term environmental and community value.“We are really advocating not just green but trees that have multipurpose value,” Gevaña said.He adds fruit-bearing and shade-giving trees that could better serve urban communities should be considered. Gevaña also emphasized the need for a more proactive approach to protecting green spaces, pointing to countries like Singapore and South Korea where urban development is integrated with environmental preservation and cultural planning.Even with the planned replanting efforts, DENR officials admitted that not all seedlings are guaranteed to survive. The agency’s target survival rate is only around 80 to 85 percent. And even if the seedlings do grow successfully, it could take decades before they provide the same benefits as the mature trees that once lined Quirino Avenue.<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MgmB0Qeqd_g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Residents along Quirino Avenue in Manila are mourning the loss of decades-old trees cut down to make way for an infrastructure project, saying the trees provided not only shade and cooler air, but also protection from flooding and relief from the intense heat.

Residents along Quirino Avenue in Manila are mourning the loss of decades-old trees cut down to make way for an infrastructure project, saying the trees provided not only shade and cooler air, but also protection from flooding and relief from the intense heat.

Residents mourn loss of hundreds of trees cut in Manila for infra project

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Residents mourn loss of hundreds of trees cut in Manila for infra project

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2026 07:53 PM PHT

Read More:

DENR

trees

earthballing

flood

UPLB

SALEX

Quirino Avenue

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