Court case to stop cutting of more than 100 trees in Baguio: Nationwide boycott of SM malls pushed

By Alfred Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – Cause-oriented groups and concerned citizens urged a boycott of SM malls in the country, following expose of the giant firm’s plans to cut or “ball” around 200 fully grown pine trees to construct a huge three-storey parking lot beside its mall here.

The groups urged concerned government offices to stop the project saying it would be detrimental to the city as trees are necessary in purifying air, conserving water and in preventing landslides.

A signature drive was started wherein signatories would be included in a letter addressed to President Aquino urging him to order the DENR or concerned government agencies to stop the project considering the government’s total log ban policy.

A “writ of kalikasan” was also reportedly due to be filed in court by University of the Philippines professor Harry Roque as lawyer of Michael Bengwayan, executive director of Cordillera Ecological Center, an environmental nongovernment organization.

Bengwayan told the media they would be pushing for the boycott of SM malls nationwide if the project would push through due to its adverse effects on the environment.

“Balling” trees, as proven when trees were “transferred” from Camp John Hay, was not effective as 80 percent of the trees died.

Cutting trees, he added, was more devastating top the environment.

Thousands of “netizens” worldwide have reportedly joined the move against the project in various internet networking sites while those in the Philippines said they would join the boycott.

Netizens expressed solidarity with local folk saying people of Baguio should not allow moneyed firms to trample on their right to breathe fresh air and destroy the environment, saying there should be a limit to greed for money.

Environment groups were set to conduct rallies here on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. to protest the project saying they were concerned the Baguio Regreening Movement was allowing it.

They called on residents to and supporters against the project to converge at Gov. Pack Road below SM.

Critics said with this, the BRM, whose members are composed of city government and line agency officials (including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and church personalities should abolish the BRM as it had outgrown its use and become an instrument of “crass commercialism.”

This, after DENR regional director Clarence Baguilat told the media all papers of SM relative to the project were “in order” and the firm could start construction.

Baguilat said 22 “conditionalities” were imposed by the DENR for SM to comply with even as he denied allegations from critics that money changed hands, reason why the government agency allowed the project.

As the controversy grew, mayor Mauricio Domogan denied having a hand in the issuance of a permit allowing cutting and balling of trees in the area.

The mayor said the authority to issue such permits was within jurisdiction of the DENR.

“My power as city executive to issue such permit is limited to emergency situations and since the SM case does not fall in said category, then I have no power to issue such permit,” Domogan said.

The site was reportedly part of the property acquired by SM through an “auction” sale on April 22,1992 for a bid price of P69,000,995.52 in six separate amortizations which ended in 1997 located in Residential Section “A” described as Lot. Nos. 3-B, 114-A, 128, 115-B, 125-A, 126-B-2, 126-A, X—1 and Y-2.

Domogan said SM furnished his office documents for its expansion plans last year.

He said he asked the company to include development of a centralized parking terminal for buses along Gov. Pack Road in the development plan measuring 1,500 square meters.

This would help decongest the central business district of vehicles, he added.

The Baguio SM management didn’t issue a press statement on the matter at press time.