Cheyenne Suarez

Marikina residents urge protection of century-old trees as DENR reviews bridge project

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Residents of Provident Village in Marikina City are urging the government to spare hundreds of trees that could be affected by a major bridge project, warning that their removal would worsen flooding and increase urban heat.The appeal comes as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it has yet to issue any permit for tree cutting related to the Metro Manila Bridges Project and is still awaiting key documents from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).The trees that lining Riverbanks Avenue have become a defining feature of Provident Village. Residents say they provide extensive shade, help cool the surrounding area during extreme heat, and contribute to flood mitigation by absorbing rainwater.Their fate is tied to the Metro Manila Bridges Project, a government infrastructure initiative funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank. According to project documents obtained by ABS-CBN News, more than 200 trees may be affected by the construction of bridges that will connect Marcos Highway and A. Bonifacio Avenue.For residents like tricycle driver Marcelo Policarpio, the project raises concerns beyond the loss of greenery.&quot;Wala na kaming privacy dito. Dun pa lang sa access road traffic na, paano pa kaya kung ito? Diyan na manggagaling ang mga galing Marcos Highway. Pag natraffic dito, sino pa ang sasakay? Lalakad na lang ang mga tao,&quot; he said.He is also worried that heavier traffic would affect his livelihood.Environmental advocates also warned that cutting the trees could have long-term consequences for a village already known for severe flooding.Provident Village has repeatedly been inundated during intense and prolonged rainfall, making natural flood buffers such as mature trees particularly valuable.Annika Torres of Marikina Kontra Agos said the community stands to lose more than just shade if the trees are removed.&quot;Bukod sa concern na mawawalan ng urban shade, yung pagkawala ng puno ay lalala ang baha na nararanasan ng Provident Village,&quot; Torres said.She noted that many of the trees are older than some of the village&#x27;s residents, making relocation through earthballing difficult.&quot;Some of the trees here are much older than the residents, so these cannot be earthballed, they&#x27;re too old to be earthballed. Even if you replant them, it&#x27;s gonna take a lot of decades. Definitely there&#x27;s going to be disastrous environmental implications,&quot; she added.The DENR, however, clarified that no tree-cutting permit has been granted so far.In an interview with ABS-CBN News, DENR-National Capital Region Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria said the agency continues to assess which trees can be preserved or transferred and whether some pose risks to existing drainage systems.&quot;Yung mga ibang puno nga sits on the drainage. Actually, nakakabara pa,&quot; Tamoria said.&quot;Yan yung problem ng mga punong nandun sa parang easement na katabi ang drainage system. Sa paglapad ng root system, napu-push back yung mga open canal o yung mga drainage system. So yan, kasama yun doon sa ilang pinag-aaralan natin,&quot; he added.Before any permit can be issued, the DENR said the DPWH must first submit several requirements, including a Certificate of Non-Objection from the local government unit and the homeowners&#x27; association, a complete inventory of affected trees, and a relocation plan for trees that can be earthballed and transferred.ABS-CBN News learned that on July 10, the local government said it sent a letter to both the DPWH and DENR expressing support for one of the three planned bridges under the project while urging both agencies to ensure that affected trees are protected as much as possible.The debate highlights the growing challenge of balancing infrastructure development with environmental protection, particularly in urban communities increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme heat and more intense rainfall.Mature trees are widely recognized for providing ecosystem services such as cooling neighborhoods, reducing flood runoff and improving air quality.

Residents of Provident Village in Marikina City are urging the government to spare hundreds of trees that could be affected by a major bridge project, warning that their removal would worsen flooding and increase urban heat.

Residents of Provident Village in Marikina City are urging the government to spare hundreds of trees that could be affected by a major bridge project, warning that their removal would worsen flooding and increase urban heat.