DENR to ensure survival of Katipunan trees

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will extend its assistance to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure the high level of survival of trees that will be removed from an island on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City to give way to a road widening project.

DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun told The STAR that Regional Executive Director for NCR Cora Davis and the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) will closely work with MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno to make sure that the balling of trees is done carefully.

Gozun said the balling of trees will be done at night, and that the trees to be removed will be re-planted on Katipunan and not in Marikina as originally planned.

"As what has been agreed upon during a meeting at Malacañang the other day with President Arroyo, the road widening project on Katipunan will push through with those conditions," she said.

Meanwhile, environmentalists and residents demonstrated along Katipunan yesterday morning in protest of the MMDA project. The protesters included artist-environmentalist Jim Paredes, actress Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Fr. Robert Reyes, residents and employees of Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University.

They marched from Burgundy Place to Cravings, where the MMDA has began demolishing an island. The group said prayers underneath a tree.

Ester de Tagle, founding chairman of the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (Cocap), said they are pushing for a Senate hearing on the issue.

But Angelito Vergel de Dios, MMDA executive director for traffic, said the removal of the trees in the area has already been settled.

"Basta ang alam ng MMDA ang kalsada ay para sa tao’t mga sasakyan at ang mga puno ay para sa park," he said.

The MMDA is rushing the removal of the islands on Katipunan Avenue to ease traffic in the area in time for the opening of classes two weeks from now.