Tree cutting in Manila ‘paused,’ to be studied
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Wednesday the mass cutting of trees along Quirino Avenue in Manila for the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx) project has been suspended temporarily.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna made the announcement at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, saying the project proponent has agreed to halt the activity.
“Right now, the cutting has voluntarily stopped, and we agree with this. Let’s pause it for now. It will be studied further; there might still be additions to the earth balling,” the DENR secretary said.
“We’re really sad about this honestly, about the cutting of trees. We did not want this to happen. But it is necessary. We just want to tell the public that we studied this well. We’re doing things [in coordination] with the project proponent and local government unit to address what happened,” Cuna said.
The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) welcomed the decision but said it plans to file a case to hold those responsible accountable for the unlawful and destructive tree-cutting.
Legal action
“If the DENR is serious about protecting the environment, it should make the suspension of tree-cutting along Quirino Avenue permanent,” the group said.
“A suspension is not enough—it is necessary to completely stop projects that destroy the environment and livelihoods,” it added.
The group said the suspension reflects the impact of sustained collective action from communities, environmental advocates and concerned organizations.
On Tuesday, environmental advocates assembled in Manila on Mabini Street and formed a human chain to protect the remaining trees that had been tagged for removal.
“This is clearly the result of the people’s collective action and vigilance. If communities and organizations had not spoken out and protested, the cutting of trees would have continued without interruption,” Cathleen de Guzman of Kalikasan PNE said in a statement.
Accountability
Kalikasan PNE, however, raised concerns about accountability and governance, questioning the timing of the suspension.
“Why only now? Why was it only suspended and reviewed after more than 200 trees had already been cut?” De Guzman said, adding: “This shows that there was no sufficient review and accountability from the very beginning.”
The group stressed that the DENR should be held responsible for having allowed the project to move forward in the first place.
“The DENR must be held accountable and continuously made to answer for this. The agency should not serve as a rubber stamp for projects that favor big corporations at the expense of the environment and the people’s welfare,” De Guzman said.
The group also pushed for the immediate suspension of other environmentally damaging projects across the country such as Berong Nickel Corp.’s mining activities in Palawan, and the Ahunan Dam project in Pakil, Laguna.
They warned that both initiatives could result in the loss of thousands of trees and pose significant risks to ecosystems and nearby communities.
The DENR earlier defended the tree cutting on Quirino Avenue, saying it was legally authorized and subject to strict environmental safeguards.
According to the San Miguel Corp. Infrastructure website, SALEx is a proposed 40.62-kilometer expressway featuring both elevated viaduct and shoreline sections.
The Quirino Extension is designed to connect Skyway Stage 3 at the Quirino Interchange with the proposed Shoreline Expressway and Roxas Boulevard via an elevated roadway.
