Provident Villages, Marikina residents fight plan to chop off big old trees

MARIKINA, Philippines — About 500 residents of Provident Villages in Marikina are protesting a planned cutting of big old trees in the city.

They signed a petition against the move, which is being planned by two construction companies Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Company Limited (HNRB) and Rhodium 688 Builder Incorporated.

The two firms are in a joint venture, intending to chop off twenty one twenty one (21) big, old trees in Provident Village, so that they could later on construct a bridge – another project the residents vehemently oppose as well.

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The trees are located along Saint Mary Avenue – the main street at the entrance of Provident Villages in Barangay Jesus dela Peña and Barangay Tañong.

Most of them are narra, acacia and golden showers which have given the community shades from the scorching sunlight and searing heat for more than 50 years

“Please help us save our trees. They are our cherished ecological treasures,” pleaded Maria Corazon Lim, president of Holy Family Homeowners Association of Provident Villages.

Lim is leading the campaign to save the trees from being uprooted, along with church officials in the community, including parish priest Father Bien Miguel, who have spoken at the pulpit about protecting the place from environmental assault.

The residents moved after receiving from the two construction companies a letter asking the homeowners to grant them a Certificate of No Objection to the felling of the big old trees.

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“What we told the firms in response was we were willing to have a dialogue with their engineers and other officials. But on the cutting of the trees, our reaction is a resounding no,” she declared.

The community leaders led by the Holy Family Board of Trustees have sent their petition, wherein the signatures of about 500 residents are affixed, to the Marikina First District Reps. Marcy Teodoro and Miro Quimbo, Vice Mayor Del de Guzman, Jesus dela Peña Barangay Captain Rosette Sarmiento and Tañong Barangay Captain Danny del Castillo.

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On Thursday, July 22, Lim submitted a copy of the petition meant to save the big old trees to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR).

She addressed the letter of request to DENR-NCE Executive Director Nilo Tamoria.

The residents have also hung tarpaulins around the 21 big old trees with messages “Save Me” in order to prevent tree cutters from knocking them down. /apl