Friday, October 06, 2006 Peña: Clear skies in Metro Manila By Rox Peña E-ssue
AT THE top floor of a building in Ortigas Center where I attended a seminar a few months ago, I saw two contrasting features of Metro Manila. On one side is the exhilarating view of Manila Bay, tall buildings with sparkling glass walls and green golf courses and on the other is the awful sight of smog that blankets the metropolis. A cloud of smoke, 80 percent of which is caused by vehicle emission, shrouds the country's capital region.
In spite of the mandatory vehicle emission test required by the Clean Air Act, smoke belchers still manage to get away with their pollutive ways. It's a good thing that Mother Nature has a way of cleaning dirty air, although sometimes she comes with a fury. Typhoons like "Milenyo" are destructive, but they blow away air pollutants. With an average of 20 tropical storms visiting our archipelago every year, our skies get regular cleaning.
I was in Metro Manila the day after "Milenyo" unleashed its wrath. As expected, the sky is clear. City dwellers can breathe fresh air for a few days at least. And yes, it's not just the absence of smog that brightened up the urban landscape. The sky is clear too of visual pollution. This is the first time that I saw the city minus the clutter of huge colored ads. The tarpaulins of giant billboards are all folded up. And if Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago will have her way, these outdoor posters may never unfurl at all.
Aside from being eyesores, billboards along highways are hazardous. Motorists are at risk not only of being hit by collapsing steel frames, but of being distracted by skimpily-clad models endorsing lingerie and all sorts of products. So, it's not only Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando who is happy with the proposed ban on billboards, but women and religious groups as well.
Let's watch closely how the government will regulate the outdoor advertising business. For now, let's enjoy the unobstructed view of the bright blue sky while it lasts.
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"Milenyo" cleared the skies alright, but it also reduced the kind of "obstruction" that we want. I'm talking about the cool and refreshing shade that trees provide in our hot and congested concrete jungle. Many large trees were uprooted. The wind was so strong that even concrete walkways surrounding trees were uplifted. Replacing those dead trees should be fast-tracked to take advantage of the few remaining days of the rainy season.
Here in Pampanga, the wind is not as strong but still several trees were toppled. I was driving along North Luzon Expressway at the height of the typhoon and saw several gmelina trees tumbled along the northbound lane partially blocking the road. Luckily, no one was hurt. I suggest we plant deep-rooted and sturdy trees like narra along highways.
I was reminded of the thousands of trees planted last August 25. I hope the fragile seedlings survived the super typhoon. I urged the "Green Philippines Highways Program" partners to check the areas they adopted and replant them if necessary.
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Speaking of tree planting, I wish I already have balacat seedlings to plant in Mabalacat. It will take a few months more before the balacat trees at the Don Teodoro V. Santos Institute starts fruiting. As of today, they are still in their flowering stage.
But I have good news. Last Saturday, I passed by the Madapdap High School and spotted familiar looking leaves dangling outside the school's fence. When I came in for a closer look, I was elated to discover that they are balacat trees. There are four young trees planted in the school grounds.
I have yet to ask who and when the trees were planted. In that resettlement area, it would also be best to plant dapdap trees in addition to balacat. The barangay was named after this tree.
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