Residents of Silang, Cavite are outraged by the removal of 68 trees along Aguinaldo Highway as part of a road-widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
On October 18, an online petition was circulated in opposition to the aforementioned initiative.
Sad Reality 😭 all these living things to be put down for more roads along Silang-Aguinaldo HighWay. Mas marami pa ang…
Posted by Czarina Rosana Marla on Friday, October 15, 2021
“With the urgent calls for action to combat climate change, why is our Government not heeding the call? And why do they always focus on giving priority to the minority of Filipinos who own a car,” asked Czarina Rosana, who started the online signature campaign.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources office permitted the said tree cutting along Silang Bypass Road.
However, according to the terms and conditions, the permittee is required to replace the 23 planted non-premium tree species with 1,150 seedings at a ratio 1:50 and 45 premium species with 4,500 seedlings at a ratio 1:100 to every tree cut.
Meanwhile, Silang Mayor Corie Poblete expressed her regret over the removal of the trees, stating that the trees in their town helped to make them the Garden Capital of the South.
Despite her remorse, Poblete explained that the operation must be completed in order to prevent road damage from roots and accidents from branches.
“Nararamdaman ko rin ang nararamdaman ng marami sa atin na nalulungkot, nababahala at nasasaktan pero narito po ako upang handang ipaglaban ang anuman na pwede nating solusyon para rito. Kasama nyo po ako sa labang ito,” she said in her Facebook post.
