San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said that it is implementing tree management activities to replace the trees that were cut down along Quirino Avenue in Manila City in preparation for its planned elevated toll road, the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX).
SMC shared that its tree management plan is approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which requires SMC to provide 50,700 replacement seedlings consisting of indigenous forest species, as well as fruit-bearing or economically viable species. The seedlings will be planted in sites designated by DENR-NCR and maintained over a mandatory three-year period.
SMC cut down or removed the trees along Quirino Avenue as part of the pre-construction phase of the 3.97-km Manila segment of SALEX. The Manila segment will pass through portions of Quirino Avenue, San Marcelino Street, and Roxas Boulevard.
SMC added that the clearing works are needed to build the elevated expressway along the approved alignment. The company noted that it has considered several design options, but the current plan was deemed to be the most feasible because it meets structural and engineering requirements. The option to cut down and remove the trees along Quirino Avenue was said to be favored by SMC as it also reduces the displacements of residents, while avoiding wider disruption to public and private infrastructure.
The cutting down of trees is covered by permits issued by the DENR following a technical assessment and tree inventory of the project corridor. Of the affected trees, 94 were found suitable for earth-balling and relocation. More than 30 trees have already been transferred to other sites in the City of Manila, while the rest will be preserved and relocated where site conditions allow, according to SMC.
The company said earth-balling is being pursued where technically feasible, but not all trees can be relocated using this method. 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.
As such, SMC said that it is conducting a comprehensive review of the affected trees, including their species, age, health, condition, and treatment. This is to provide an accurate account of which trees were removed, relocated, or replaced. SMC noted that it is also coordinating with the DENR and other concerned agencies to identify opportunities to strengthen the greening program.
SALEX is a 40.65-km elevated expressway network intended to give motorists and cargo vehicles a more direct route across key parts of Metro Manila. SMC claims that the project is designed to help ease pressure on major corridors such as EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and port-area roads, while improving access between Manila, Bulacan, R-10, the Skyway System, and SLEX.
Autocar’s Take
SMC announced that it is implementing tree management activities to replace the trees that were cut down along Quirino Avenue in Manila City in preparation for the SALEX elevated toll road. SMC said that the decision to cut down the trees is deemed the most viable option as it meets structural and engineering requirements while at the same time reducing the displacements of residents.
This is quite a hard pill to swallow, considering that the trees provide environmental, ecological, and human health benefits. We do hope that SMC and the DENR remain committed to the tree management plan it has implemented.
