SM tree case small compared to others

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY -- The number of trees that are supposed to be affected by the controversial expansion project of SM Investment Corporation here is just a small percentage compared to the number of
trees that have already been cut and earth balled from 2002 elsewhere
in the city, records from the Department of Natural Resources
Cordillera office reveal.

          Based on DENR data, a total of 4,078 trees have been affected by
mostly construction and development projects within Baguio City. Five
hundred fifteen have been displaced through earth balling
process, 503 of which have took place in 2008 after having been issued
permits by the DENR.

          The records also show that most of the tree cutting permits issued
involved trees that were cut within Camp John Hay, with 1027, and 332
trees underwent earth balling from 2000 up to 2010.

          Aside from Camp John Hay, other entities that were issued tree cutting permits and special cutting/earthballing permits due to expansion, development projects, and construction include the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, University of the Philippines Baguio, Saint Louis University, government line agencies, subdivision developers and private lot owners.

          The record also listed the issuance of tree cutting permits to some
entities since the trees concerned, either live or dead, posed danger
to lives and properties. DENR local officials have observed that while the opposition is currently focused – and have initially succeeded – on halting the earth balling of the remaining in the 182 trees in the SM Luneta Hill property, many are unaware that the SLU administration has pushed through with their development in Pacdal area even while their request for a cutting permit with the DENR has not yet been acted upon.

          The development in the area, based on their request for permit, is for the expansion of its SLU Boys High campus. Goshen Land Capital, a real estate and condomiums developer, on the other hand, has not secured and has not been issued any permit from
the DENR.

          It is believed to have cut trees as a consequence of their
development in Leonila Hill, Bakakeng and some parts of La Trinidad
with the permission of the city government.

          Environment officials think it is unfortunate that SM is being
targeted at the moment when in fact many trees have been cut and are
soon to be cut without the knowledge of the public. They support any
move to zero in as well with these eventualities, if only to regulate
the cutting of trees.

          At the moment, 649.57 hectares or only 47.77 percent of the

1,359.78 total area of proclamation for forest reservation are planted with trees.

                   ***

          In a related development Mayor Mauricio Domoganus now pushing approval of the proposed updated Baguio City Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance by the city council.

            The mayor said he will reconvene the City Development Council which drafted the updated CLUP and will move for the return of the draft to the council for action.

            A city hall press release by Aileen P. Refuerzo said the city council recently returned the draft to the CDC for incorporation of the recommendations and inputs gathered from the multi-sectoral consultations conducted by the council committee on urban planning, lands and housing headed by Councilor IsabeloCosalan Jr.

            The revisions and adjustments are now reportedly being undertaken by the city planning and development office under officer-in-charge Evelyn Cayat which serves as CDC secretariat.

            The mayor earlier expressed reception to recommendations as there are entries in the draft that need to be changed for practical reasons like the limit on the number of stories recommended for buildings in the city.

          The city council committee on urban planning, lands and housing recently wrapped up the consultations with the various sectors on the draft updated CLUP and Zoning Ordinance and is readying recommendations to the city council based on the inputs gathered.

            Cosalan said extensive inputs were collated from consultations from folks of certain reservations and lands classified as unbuildable, hazardous areas and buffer zones. 

          “While there are proclaimed or identified for certain purposes, it is a glaring reality that portions thereof are occupied/settled for so long a time presumably with government consent.  Also, discrepancies in certain presented data that may affect the consistency of the whole plan were noted. With these observations, questions of ambiguity of the proposed updated CLUP as presented are certain,” Cosalan noted.

          The committee proposed numerous considerations in the draft among which included need to look deeper into the overall direction of the development plans. 

          The land use plan, for the next ten or more, would reportedly be taking away more than 119 from the 566.21 hectares of “vacant forested areas” or 21 percent of existing forest land supposed to be for greening purposes. 

          Add this to the already occupied portions of forest/water reservations, roads and creek/river easements and the city will end up with barely a space to breathe;

          The committee also cited need to translate into clear, defined and purposeful plan the proposed and adopted Multi-nodal form of spatial development strategy where the particular field of specialization for the particular cluster is expressly articulated to serve as investment and development guides.

          It also bared consideration of at least a 15–year period effectivity for the Baguio City Comprehensive Land Use Plan to provide ample time for the realization of the vision-mission-goal statements.

          The committee will also push for the adoption of the observations and recommendations forwarded by the various sectors consulted namely the National Economic and Development Authority Cordillera; the academe; the BLISTT; trade and industry; tourism; education; public safety and protection; social welfare services; health; infrastructure and utilities; housing and indigenous groups.

            The CLUP serves as the City’s “blueprint for our City’s physical and economic development toward a safer and healthier environment,” according to the mayor.

            The plan is highlighted by four “major spatial strategies” namely the decongestion of the Central Business District through the provision of growth nodes along strategic locations in the City, the designation of additional areas for institutional purposes that support the city’s role as an education center north of Manila, the preservation of existing watersheds, forest reservations, parks and other areas supported by Presidential Proclamations and other laws and setting of Environment Development Controls.

          The new CLUP’s updates center on the allowed uses within the different zones, building heights and the provision of a land use map which specifies the land use allocation of the various zones namely residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and utilities zones.