Cutting of trees needed for road project–SMC
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Monday pushed back against widespread criticism over the mass cutting of trees along Quirino Avenue in Manila, insisting the clearing activities were necessary to make way for the Southern Access Link Expressway (Salex) project.
“The clearing works are needed to build the elevated expressway along the approved alignment,” the SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corp. (SMC Salex) said, adding that the tree management activities were part of the preconstruction phase for the 3.97-kilometer Manila segment of the elevated toll road.
While it defended the move, SMC Salex said it was conducting a “comprehensive review” of the affected trees, including assessments of their condition, species and age to determine which were removed, relocated or replaced, while also identifying ways to further reduce environmental impact.
Options considered
SMC Salex said several design options for the toll road were studied before the alignment was finalized.
It added that the approved route was found to be the most feasible because it met structural and engineering requirements while minimizing the displacement of residents and avoiding wider disruption to public and private infrastructure.
These clearing activities, it stressed, were covered by permits issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which it said had conducted a technical assessment and inventory of trees within the project site.
Of the affected trees, 94 were found suitable for earth-balling and relocation, SMC Salex said. More than 30 have already been transferred to other sites in Manila, while the remaining trees would be preserved and relocated where conditions allow.
However, more than 200 of the around 600 trees approved for cutting had already been processed.
SMC Salex said not all trees could be transferred using earth-balling.
“Earth-balling is being pursued where technically feasible, but not all trees can be relocated using this method,” it said. “The process requires unearthing and preserving the root system, which may involve extensive excavation and may not be viable in areas with limited road space, underground utilities, nearby structures, or trees that are not suitable for transplantation.”
Ecological violence
SMC Salex issued the statement after environmental advocates and church groups criticized the removal of mature trees along Quirino Avenue, which Caritas Philippines president and San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said was tantamount to “ecological violence.”
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said last week the project proponent had “voluntarily stopped” the tree-cutting activities, which would be “studied further,” adding that some trees initially slated for removal may still qualify for earth-balling.
As part of its permit conditions, SMC Salex reiterated that it is required to plant 50,700 replacement seedlings consisting of indigenous forest species, as well as fruit-bearing and economically valuable trees.
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