People rally behind 100 threatened fire trees

We are very happy about the way people have responded to the problem as to what to do with the 100 fire trees lining McArthur Highway in Bulacan which may have to be axed or balled and transferred to another location. We can think of many places that would benefit if those "problem" trees were transferred in their area. One of them would be the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani. We were there to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the former First Lady, Doña Eva Macaraig Macapagal and the site would definitely be enhanced if those "problem" trees were moved to that area. Another place where they would fit in perfectly would be the Macapagal Avenue where such important government buildings like the Philippine National Bank are situated.

What makes us happy is the way many sectors rallied to save the trees. To give time to save the trees, for instance, the widening of the road started as scheduled, but not in the areas where the trees are. This was decided to give time to people or institutions that are interested in saving some or all the 100 fire trees to finance the pruning, balling and transfer of said fire trees. By coincidence, May is the month when flame trees are in full bloom.

Without question, private persons and institutions have shown enough interest that would save the 100 endangered fire trees. All that is needed is for someone to come out with figures as to how much it would cost to trim, ball and transfer the trees to a new site.

Filipinos undoubtedly love trees. It is not uncommon here to see street placards that carry Joyce Killmer’s classic poem on trees. But as he himself said, that is a poor substitute for actual trees because, poems are made by fools like him, but only God can make a tree.

What we would most like to see is an effort to duplicate the Arroceros Forest Park in Manila. Quezon City also has a forest park. We don’t see why Greenbelt in Makati cannot be expanded to have the third forest park in Metro Manila. But even more important is if each barangay everywhere went into a tree-planting project in their respective barangays. What a difference that would make.

In the meantime, we will closely monitor the effort of many sectors to save the 100 threatened fire trees along McArthur Highway. Let all 100 of them transfer their beauty elsewhere. Trees are a must to people’s health and the health of the environment. The Mid-Columbia Community Forest Council also loves to emphasize that "Trees have a positive effect on people – they make us feel happy and connected with nature, they reduce stress, they help us recover from illness faster and they restore our spirits."

We urge all to plant more trees, first, in their homes, second, in public places where they will enhance the environment.