DPWH to move 300 trees from SLEX

MANILA, Philippines - At least 300 mahogany trees along the South Luzon Expressway will be transferred to pave the way for the construction of the P2.1-billion Daang Hari-SLEX link project, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official said yesterday.

Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is expected to issue this week a permit allowing the DPWH to cut and ball trees.

“The 300-plus trees are located along the SLEX, northbound and southbound,” he said, adding that it would be the DENR that would dictate which tree needs to be cut and which can be earth-balled.

Yabut said some of the trees could be donated to schools.

He said the project involves the construction of a four-kilometer, four-lane paved toll road that would pass through the New Bilibid Prison reservation and connect Bacoor, Cavite to the SLEX. The first phase will be undertaken by Ayala Corp.

The aim of the project is to provide additional access between Metro Manila and Cavite, where rapid urbanization is being experienced, Yabut said.

The first segment will start at the Daang Hari-Daang Reyna junction and end at Sta. Rosa, Laguna, while the second segment will start at Sta. Rosa and end at the Susana Heights interchange through a roundabout.

 The DPWH said once the project is completed, it would likely reduce travel time by 20 minutes during off-peak hours and by 60 minutes during peak hours between Cavite and the southern part of Luzon.