Teachers celebrate Earth Day at controversial Manila park

Manila public school teachers and students marked the Earth Day celebration yesterday with day-long activities emphasizing their commitment to preserve the environment, particularly on the Arroceros property where the teachers’ head office will soon rise.

They were joined by Mayor Lito Atienza, who officially announced the start of the construction of the Manila Division of City Schools (DCS) building inside Arroceros Park.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, a time capsule was lowered for the construction of the administration offices in a corner of the Manila DCS property.

The activity was highlighted by the teachers’ declaration of the place as the "People’s Forest Park," opening up the area to the public.

The teachers’ building would only occupy less than 10 percent of the two- hectare property. In selecting the location, they chose an area where there were no big tress standing.

The mayor assured the public that they would not touch the big trees while the estimated 50 tree saplings would be transferred to other areas such as the Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila.

However, City Planning Officer Jun Tablan said they would not be able to immediately start with the project’s construction because of a case pending before Branch 27 of the Manila City Regional Trial Court (MCRTC) under Judge Teresa Soriaso.

Private group Winners Foundation had filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction against Atienza to prevent the construction of the teachers’ administration building. The group has also been laying claim to the property as its caretakers.

But hours after the groundbreaking ceremonies, the mayor learned that the judge has denied the petition for a TRO, saying there was "no urgent necessity."

The DCS, led by superintendent Luisa Quinones, has insisted on the ownership of the disputed property. The DCS in Manila is the only office in the metropolis that does not have its own building.

"We have been squatting at the fourth floor of the Manila City Hall for the last 106 years," Quinones added.

Atienza said the park would be opened to everyone and would be converted into a botanical garden, where students can freely tour the area to further enrich their knowledge of plants. The trees would be properly labeled for easy identification.

Atienza also dismissed speculations that they would cut down trees to construct a housing project inside the park. He clarified that the housing project would occupy the old fire station, local Commission on Elections (Comelec), Barangay Bureau and the Lion’s Club.

On Sunday, the Winner Foundation is planning to hold a prayer run to save Arroceros Park from allegedly being destroyed by the city government project.