‘Keep Katipunan green’

Environmentalist groups, together with two major schools and residents of a posh subdivision, appealed to President Arroyo yesterday to order the suspension of the road widening project of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

Earth Day Network Philippines, Metro Manila-Linis Ganda and the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (Cocap) said the removal of an island, which involves balling of trees, does not guarantee the improvement of traffic in the metropolis. The island being demolished separates the main road from the service road.

The appeal was echoed by Miriam College, Ateneo de Manila University, and La Vista subdivision, where President Arroyo has a house. The groups claimed they were not consulted by the MMDA about the project, which started the other day.

Annie Guerrero, an alumna of Miriam College, which initiated the greening of Katipunan, protested the "unenvironmental" attitude of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando.

She lamented the fate of the trees that would be removed in the course of eliminating the island.

Among those planted on Katipunan are 16 acacias, 25 banabas, several mahogany, sampaloc, camachile, talisay and mango trees and about a hundred bougainvilla bushes.

"The greening of Katipunan was no joke," she said. "For his (Bayani’s) information, his wife even donated three truckloads of garden soil to us and the greening was done in partnership with the MMDA during the time of the gracious Benjamin Abalos Sr. And now, he wants to remove the trees just to make faster lanes?"

According to a "Katipunan manifesto" written by Cocap founder Ester Peres de Tagle, the implementation of the MMDA project without consultation with affected communities was in gross vio-lation of the Local Government Code.

Quoting the law, De Tagle said "No project or program shall be implemented by government authorities unless consultations are made and prior approval of the Sanggunian concerned is obtained."

De Tagle noted that under the Consitution it is the duty of the state "To protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them, advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology, in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature."

"Trees are a natural infrastructure. Let us not uglify our communities to get cars moving," said artist-environmentalist Jim Paredes.

The MMDA is pushing through with the removal of the islands in Katipunan as part of the master plan to provide wider roads for motorists and improve vehicular flow.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said the agency needs to complete the project in time for the opening of classes on June 16.

The MMDA argued that no trees would be cut since they would be removed using balling machines. Balling refers to removal of trees from their roots. The trees would then be transfered to other areas on Katipunan.

However, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-Philippines chairwoman Leonarda Camacho said balling machines can only remove small trees and not the old, big ones.

She warned that many trees on Katipunan may not survive replanting. "Studies have shown that widening roads does not solve traffic problems in the long term. In fact, it encourages more vehicles to use expanded roads, as well as increase the vehicle population, thereby increasing pollution," De Tagle said.

"What is even more dangerous in the case of Katipunan is that by removing the islands, the MMDA is turning a school zone into a highway, endangering the lives of the students and residents. Freed of a buffer zone, vehicles will spill over at high speed, and put pedestrians at risk of being sideswiped," she added.

Guerrero urged Fernando to listen to their plea.

"How can the trees get in the way of traffic? In our community, we make way for trees. We will not die of traffic, Mr. Chairman, but of pollution," she said.

"We don’t need fast lanes, we’re not used to that. We have our own culture here."

"Manila is not cut out for fast lanes as with America and other developed countries. We have to accept that our roads have many arteries. Please, Mr. Fernando, listen to us," she added.

Bayani’s explanation

Fernando said yesterday he welcomes the inquiry the Senate on the removal of trees. It would give the MMDA a chance to explain the program, he said.

Earlier, Sen. Vicente Sotto III questioned the MMDA’s removal of the island, warning about the possible violation of environmental laws with the balling of trees.

But Fernando said the MMDA does not need to consult with anyone regarding the balling of the trees since no one group owns the road or the trees.

He said the MMDA issues the permits for tree balling while the Department of Public Works and Highways has the authority over the roads.

"Trees are part of the design of the road. If they want to maintain the trees they can do so but we are not required to consult with anyone for the balling of the trees," Fernando said.

The MMDA chief said the trees will be transferred to Marikina City which provided the balling machines for the program.

"You could say this is our way of saying thank you to Marikina City for the use of their balling machines," Fernando said.

There are around 17 mature trees that are being removed along Katipunan to pave the way for the removal of the concrete islands at the side of the road.

Fernando claimed that most of the trees were actually planted by the MMDA.

"We are removing the islands so we can make full use of the service roads along Katipunan," he said. – With Marvin Sy