SM Mall expansion threatens 172 trees

Thursday, January 12, 2012

IT SEEMS the Aquino administration’s Executive Order 23 or indefinite log ban has recently been placed in the sidelines with the recent issuance of a tree cutting and earth-balling permit to a mall chain.

This after Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje granted permission to SM Baguio to cut 172 trees in the mall’s property facing Governor Pack Road, paving the way for the mall’s expansion which will include a centralized parking and bus terminal in the area.

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“Pursuant to the tree cutting permit, the trees that will be cut are not pine trees but other smaller trees, while the pine trees will all be earth-balled,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.

This is despite the very slim chance of survival of earth-balled trees when they are transplanted.

The Governor Pack property near the mall is one of the few remaining pine tree-covered areas in the city together with the GSIS-owned pine tree-covered area near the Baguio Convention Center.

However, last week, the mayor said the Baguio Convention Center property will be up for development with SM also proposing for the Marcos-era property to be rehabilitated.

Domogan vehemently denied having a hand in the issuance of the permit, pointing to the DENR that has issued the tree-cutting and earth-balling permit to the mall chain.

He further disclosed the development plan of the retail giant was approved by the City Government as no less than President Benigno Aquino III signed the deed of sale of the Luneta Hill property.

The mayor said the city is left without a choice but to allow the mall to cut the trees as the search for an alternative site for more parking spaces and centralized bus terminal within the city limits has been unsuccessful.

He explained the development of Governor Pack Road passed through proper channels and secured permits for traffic diversion.

But despite the go signal to develop the Governor Pack Road this year as a centralized parking and bus terminal, the City Council still needs to repeal a previous ordinance prohibiting the construction of a bus terminal in the area.

He also added the design of the centralized bus terminal will be of “green architecture” type of building similar to SM North Edsa where urban gardens and breathing spaces will be developed on top of the parking area planned to accommodate some 1,500 vehicles.

“We urgently need a parking area in the central business district,” he said.

SM’s management told the mayor that the development will provide spaces for restaurants, fast-food chains and clean restrooms.

Baguio’s chief executive also added the proposed bus terminal will still be operated by the City Government with the same amount of revenue assured and even increased for the city once the development is finished.

DENR Regional Executive Director Clarence Baguilat, meanwhile, clarified there is no violation of Executive Order 23 as the 139 pine trees in the mall property are planted trees within a private property excluded from the log ban.

Baguilat said the expansion of the mall will affect only saplings which will be transplanted in other areas within the mall property.

As to the bigger pine trees, he said, these will be transferred to other parks and areas where there are spaces available to accommodate trees.

The mall chain is also obliged to replace the trees by planting 30 pine tree saplings in return in coordination with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the regional director said.

He said the Environmental Management Bureau has also allowed for the amendment of an earlier issued Environmental Compliance Certificate to be used for the mall expansion that will start this month.