More than 500 residents of Provident Villages in Marikina have signed a petition opposing a plan to cut down 21 decades-old trees to make way for a proposed bridge project.
The petition opposes a plan by Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Company Ltd. (HNRB) and Rhodium 688 Builder Inc., which are undertaking the project through a joint venture. Residents also reiterated their opposition to the proposed bridge itself.
The trees, located along Saint Mary Avenue at the entrance of Provident Villages in Barangays Jesus dela Peña and Tañong, include narra, acacia, and golden shower trees that residents said have shaded the community for more than 50 years.
‘Please help us save our trees. They are our cherished ecological treasures,’ said Maria Corazon Lim, president of Holy Family Homeowners Association-Provident Villages.
Lim is leading the campaign to preserve the trees, alongside church leaders, including Holy Family Parish priest Father Bien Miguel, who has also spoken against what he described as environmental destruction.
‘Here in Marikina, so many trees have been cut. Cement is being poured into the spots where big trees used to stand,’ Miguel said.
‘Doesn’t the city pride itself for its abundance of green spaces? I hope our leaders will not allow these places to become smaller and smaller,’ he said.
The residents began organizing after receiving a letter from the two construction firms requesting that the homeowners issue a Certificate of No Objection to allow the trees to be felled.
‘What we told the firms in response is that we are willing to have a dialogue with their engineers and other officials. But on the cutting of the trees, our reaction is a resounding no,’ Lim said.
She also appealed directly to the contractors, saying, ‘I hope you realize how irreplaceable the trees are that you want to cut down in our village.
Community leaders led by the Holy Family Homeowners Association have submitted their petition to Marikina Reps. Marcy Teodoro and Miro Quimbo, Mayor Maan Teodoro, Vice Mayor Del de Guzman, Jesus dela Peña Barangay Captain Rosette Sarmiento, and Tañong Barangay Captain Danny del Castillo.
On Thursday, July 22, Lim also submitted a copy of the petition to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) in Diliman, Quezon City. The letter was addressed to DENR-NCR Executive Director Nilo Tamoria.
Miguel called on local officials to protect Marikina’s remaining green spaces also as part of efforts to address the city’s recurring floods.
‘Marikina is frequently submerged in floodwaters – the more reason we should turn around and lead in urban greening,’ the priest said.
‘Let us make Marikina the first model city in keeping its green spaces intact and growing,’ he added.
Residents have also placed tarpaulins bearing the message ‘Save Me’ on the 21 trees in an effort to prevent them from being cut down.