SM Baguio to destroy 172 trees for mall expansion

[AbulugAdventure]

but you fail to see the overall population of baguio is composed of students from other provinces. kapag walang pasok sa universities, tahimik ang baguio.

Not really, dude. NOT really. Yan din ang akala ko nung una akong pumunta ng Baguio sometime October 2006.

[AbulugAdventure]

Isa pa pala: Sa mga politiko sa Baguio, sana tuluy-tuloy na yung redevelopment ng mga parke dyan, saka sana...

Paki-decentralize na ang kapitolyo Baguio para hindi na lahat ay nakaasa sa kapitolyo pagdating sa pagpapaunlad ng lugar!

[icefrog]

Isa pa pala: Sa mga politiko sa Baguio, sana tuluy-tuloy na yung redevelopment ng mga parke dyan, saka sana...

Paki-decentralize na ang kapitolyo Baguio para hindi na lahat ay nakaasa sa kapitolyo pagdating sa pagpapaunlad ng lugar!

Saan pa lugar sa Bagiuo na hindi pa masyadong developed?

[RedbeD]

At sa panahon ngayon, hangga't maaari, save even 1 tree dahil nahihirapan na ring lumaki ang mga puno gawa ng climate change.

And again, mas maganda kung you don't invite additional vehicles brought by this project. Fixed the damn traffic system and have a BRT and organized public transport system.

Kapag dumami ang sasakyan sa Baguio ulit gawa ng additional roads or parking, hahanap nanaman ng expansion, the cycle continues. Fixed it now and have a long-term planning vision naman.

Likes!

that long-term planning vision is what the city government of baguio lacks.

pera pera lang talaga ang kaso diyan.

if they had the vision and the political will to start with, Baguio could have been the envy of all cities in the Philippines. But look at Baguio now, UGLY. It has totally lost its charm. Demn, you cannot even smell the pine-scented air it was famous for.

[violetbabe]

Sharing the letter of Dr. Michael Bengwayan to the Vice Mayor of Baguio. The former is the man who started the fight for the trees

-----

January 24, 2012

MICHAEL A. BENGWAYAN, Ph.D
17 Dizon Subdivision
Baguio City

Hon. DANIEL T. FARINAS
Vice Mayor and City Council Presiding Chairman
Baguio City Council
Baguio City

Thru: Mr. JUN PARNACIO
City Council Secretary

Dear Sir,

On January 8, 2012, the Baguio Midland Courier revealed that Shoe Mart Development Corporation (SMDC) will cut 43 Alnus Japonica and uproot and earth-ball 97 Benguet pine trees (Pinus insularis) to give way to SM’s construction of a parking complex.. This report was confirmed by no less than SM.
This must not be allowed to happen. Trees are the lungs of the earth. They provide us oxygen and water. They purify our air, absorb harmful carbon dioxide, prevent water run-off, stop soil erosion, give life to smaller creatures; exude beauty and inspiration and they are part of the memorable heritage of Baguio City.
Every day, these 182 trees supply the oxygen needs of 99 people. For each 50-foot tall tree, it produces 3,000 pounds of oxygen yearly – an ample supply needed by five to six people for one year. As for reducing global warming, one tree can absorb 40 to 45 pounds of carbon dioxide every year and we know that CO2 is mainly responsible for the phenomenon global warming.
As responsible leaders who ought to protect the welfare of the future generation, you must not allow that the trees be cut.
Even if SM says it will not cut but earth-ball the trees just to lessen public outrage, Benguet pine trees and Alnus will barely survive earth-balling. It is because pine trees and Alnus are taproot trees. They have one main root called tap root which goes deep into the earth. The tap root is the main root that sustains the tree and that the lateral, feeder roots, coarse roots and water roots support the taproot. When one earth-ball, the machine normally used is a backhoe. The backhoe cuts off the feeder, lateral and water roots, and the taproot is forced out. This stresses the tree, depriving it of water and nutrient and choking it off to die, slowly.
What happens when a tree is uprooted? It undergoes Transplant Shock. They are subjected to stress-related problems due to tremendous root loss when dug. This condition, commonly called transplant shock, results in increased vulnerability to drought, insects, diseases and other problems. To a greater or lesser degree, transplant shock lasts until the natural balance between the root system and the top or crown of the transplanted tree is restored. Old trees do not survive, most die during this root-establishment period.

The trees will also suffer from Nutrient and Water Deprivation. When a tree is dug for transplanting, more than ninety-five percent of the absorbing roots are severed. With less than five percent of its root system remaining, the newly transplanted tree suffers from water stress. The crown is capable of losing water faster than it can be absorbed by the limited root mass. Water stress, in turn, can reduce the ability of leaves to produce carbohydrates (energy), diminish the growth of all parts of the tree, and subject the tree to many other environmental and pest-related problems. Combined, these problems all contribute to "transplant shock" that can kill the tree.
Contrary to the provisions of the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System (PEIAS), as stated by DENR Administrative Order No. 2003-30 covering the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the proposal of SM’s expansion is considered as Category A which falls under Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs), meaning, it has significant potential to cause negative environmental impacts. As such, DAO 2003-30 mandates SM under Section 5.3 Article 2 that there should have been a mandatory Public Hearing Consultation. This never happened.
Also, under Section 5.4.2., SM is mandated to make a detailed assessment of the proposed mitigation and enhancement measures for the identified environmental impacts and risks. This does not appear to have been done at all.

Under Section 5.4.2.d, SM should have proved that the project is socially acceptable.
This has not been complied with and with the turn of events, evidently the people of
Baguio do not like the project. SM should have proved beyond doubt that the intended expansion is socially accepted –by affected communities based on timely and informed participation in the EIA process particularly with regard to environmental impacts that are of concern to them.
In this regard, we demand that City Council recall or cancel the building permit given to SM from CBAO and that a public hearing consultation first be held. We also demand that SM prove that their expansion is socially acceptable as called for by DAO No 2003-30.
DENR-CAR said that all necessary papers have been completed by SM. If that is the case, may we request that DENR and SM show us the following so we will be given an opportunity to check on these:

1. Environmental Impact Statement
2. Environmental Management Plan
3.Environmental Risk Assessment
4.Initial Environmental Examination Report
5. Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)
6. Programmatic Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan
7. Public Participation Proof
8.Social Acceptability Proof
8. Tree Cutting Permit
9. Earth-balling Permit
In view of the natural tragedies we are having, the increasing global warming and the fragile situation of Baguio City which has been described as one of the most critical in terms of natural hazards, all trees must be preserved. As good stewards, we should add to these trees, not kill them. We must preserve Baguio. How can we call it the City of Pines without the pine trees? What an ugly landmark will SM become, a concrete, towering over Baguio, matchless against the beauty and grandeur of the pine trees? What legacy will we be leaving our children, if we start killing the trees? What leadership can we boast of, if these trees are killed in our time?

Please do not let this happen.

The massive rally last January 20 shows how much the people are against the cutting and intended earth balling. Also, thousands are signing a petition to protest this act. We are attaching signed copies of the petition where more than 10,000 people have already signed.

Thank you so much.

Very truly yours,

MICHAEL A. BENGWAYAN, Ph. D
Citizen of Baguio

[violetbabe]

This is Baguio's Mayor, Mauricio Domogan.

He's the one who issued permits.

Said he'll invite people for a dialogue with SM and DENR, which until now never happened.

He's the one who said he can't do anything about SM's project.

This photo's from his FB profile. His photo says a lot about him don't you think? You be the judge. I don't need to say more.

[AbulugAdventure]

Saan pa lugar sa Bagiuo na hindi pa masyadong developed?

I'm talking about COMMERCIAL development, para hindi lahat e nakaasa sa CBD.

[PExky]

Akala ko e walking stick ang hawak ni Mayor. Golf club pala. Pwede pala yang ganiyang outfit pag nag-g-golf ka? Cool!

[pillowcase]

can we make a petition here in pex? or meron na ba sa facebook?

[AbulugAdventure]

Meron na sa Facebook. The bullet is up to the Baguio residents. Sila ang dapat me unang masasabi dito.

[MR.JOHANN]

EXCLUSIBO Ho!!!!


http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story...ill?ref=latest

[bagiw.boi]

EXCLUSIBO Ho!!!!


http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story...ill?ref=latest

thanks, supreme court...

[jbkayaker12]

Just look at the urban areas and cities in Japan and SG, maraming parks and trees. Ganun dapat ang urban planning, dahil kapag naubos ang open spaces and trees, magiging impyerno sa init ang lugar at kung hindi maayos ang drainage system, baha naman konting ulan lang. Ang development nga ng SG pailalim ng lupa to maximize space and minimize environmental impacts sa itaas kung i-convert and i-concrete nila.

Too bad for Metro Manila lacking in green spaces and trees. I have seen more trees and parks here in Vegas compared to Metro Manila and I live in the desert. My aunt from Metro Manila who just moved to the United States came by for a visit in Vegas and remarked about the abundance of trees here.

[bagiw.boi]

Too bad for Metro Manila lacking in green spaces and trees. I have seen more trees and parks here in Vegas compared to Metro Manila and I live in the desert. My aunt from Metro Manila who just moved to the United States came by for a visit in Vegas and remarked about the abundance of trees here.

is keeping las vegas green sustainable? where does the city take its water supply from?

[TuxTips]

Last time i visit baguio, the pines are dying covered by carbon from hi revving taxis and jeeps, whats with the cutting of trees, maybe they should ban fossil fuel vehicle in baguio and use electric vehicles instead.

[jbkayaker12]

is keeping las vegas green sustainable? where does the city take its water supply from?

Mind you drought tolerant landscaping and xeriscaping. We recycle 94% of our water. The world admires Las Vegas and how we handle our scarce water resource. I seriously doubt any city or country can match our conservation efforts, 94% of our water gets recycled. We use recycled water on most if not all of our large turf areas like golf courses and parks. Hotels in Vegas are some of the most water smart hotels in the world. They also recycle and treat water for hotel use.

[kaningbrown]

Since when have we become tree huggers? O_o

[Revelations]

Not really, dude. NOT really. Yan din ang akala ko nung una akong pumunta ng Baguio sometime October 2006.

eto ako natatawa. 2006 huling punta ng baguio! bakit kaya walang nagcocomplain about big dormitories that sprouted like mushrooms all around baguio? lalo sa general luna-bonifacio area eh sangkaterba na dorms ang sumulpot. there were even two dorms which were put up simultaneously beside citylight hotel (just below bishop's house). ayun, whole mountain sides were denuded of trees to make way for big dorms.

tapos sm baguio planning to make a parking lot, but promises to plant three trees for every tree that gets relocated.

hypocrites sa totoo lang.

[AbulugAdventure]

^ Wrong. 2006 ang UNANG punta ko ng Baguio. Nitong December ang HULI.

Di hamak naman na mas may pakinabang sa dormitoryo kesa sa mall parking lot.

[Lucio_Liu]

papayag ako kung instead of trees, they will destroy those shanties/squatters area sa Baguio city! andami na nila! pumapangit tuloy ang City of Pines!

Same here sa Metro MAnila, sana puro SM City na lang kung saan may mga squatter! gibain lahat yang bahay ng mga squatter na pugad ng mga magnanakaw at snatcher!