UP students, group appeal: Include trees in site development

CEBU, Philippines - Instead of cutting them down to pave way for infrastructures, students and a civil society movement are pushing for the inclusion of trees in the site development plan of the University of the Philippines-Cebu.

UP students, the school’s Student Council and the Movement of Imaginals for a Sustainable Society through Initiatives, Organizing and Networking (Mission) stressed for a more viable plan not detrimental to the students’ welfare and to the environment. 

In yesterday’s public forum, Teresa Ruelas of Mission said trees have a vital role in the environment as pollution mitigator thus, they should be protected and preserved rather than be removed.

The forum was attended by around 20 students, parents, faculty and civic group. 

Ruelas pointed out that there is a need to come up with a “holistic” plan for the inclusion of trees that would supplement the beauty and other natural resources within the campus. 

“Let’s include the trees in our planning. They can do so much and improve the wellbeing of the students,” she said. 

Also, SC chairperson Justine Balane laid down their alternative plans, such as vertical development for classrooms and environmental and structural impact study. 

He said they are tapping environmental planners, environmental organizations and society groups to look into “viable solutions” to minimize environmental risks.

The study also covers the reassessment of the plan and the structural integrity of the existing buildings, and structural plan. 

“We need to have academic services and new buildings but without the need to compromise the trees,” he said.

“There’s a need to improve the integrity of the classrooms. But we don’t have to exchange the welfare of the students to have a conducive learning environment because the trees as well make up for the school to a conducive environment because we’ll get to be protected from environmental risks,” he added.

He said it may also be doable to have classrooms constructed on top of the existing ones to save space and to minimize the cutting of trees. 

UP-Cebu Architect Dioscoro Alesna Jr. said classrooms cannot be expanded vertically because some buildings, the Business Management Cluster building for instance, do not have the right size for a classroom.

BMC building was designed as a dormitory with minimal space, but due to lack of classrooms, it is currently holding business management classes.

Social Sciences Cluster chairperson Prof. Rowena Mende said they have been asking for new buildings because their safety is at risk while occupying BMC building. 

She said one classroom at BMC supposedly can cater to only 25 students, but now it caters to 30 to 50 students. 

“We don’t want to cut trees to have new buildings but we don’t also to compromise the lives of the students and faculty that are more important. Risking lives are more costly than cutting of those trees which we can replace,” she said. 

Alesna said UP has been known for its trees so there should be limitations and consequences of development.

He said they need to maximize the budget funded by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways. 

If the budget remains untouched until next year, it will go back to the national coffers. 

“If UP can’t expand and provide best quality, the education of the students will be sacrificed also,” he said. 

Balane said this could have been avoided if proper consultation with the students and concerned stakeholders was done earlier and the details of the plan, including the affected trees, were presented to them. 

“This matter should have been cleared out to us. It’s not we are blocking this, there’s a need to be engaged in the process and decision-making,” he said. 

The proposed additional facilities amounting to over P20 million including the Arts and Sciences expansion building, the P4.8-million multi-story UP High School building, the two-story BMC building, and the Undergraduate expansion building for the Mass Communication Program. 

The project would displace nine trees, among which acacia, coconut, jackfruit, and Fabaceae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family. Five of the nine trees that are less than 15 centimeters in diameter will be earth-balled, including the coconut and jackfruit. 

“The rest of the tress if earth-balled has slim chance of survival,” Alesna said. — (FREEMAN)