ANGELES CITY -- The Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO) has initiated trimming and pruning operations on overhanging branches of trees planted alongside MacArthur Highway and other main thoroughfares in the city.
According to Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, this initiative is aimed at preventing accidents from happening, especially during strong typhoons and other weather disturbances.
Pamintuan said that, in recent years, fallen branches or uprooted trees along MacArthur Highway in the City of San Fernando caused major accidents that led to loss of lives and properties.
“We have started this trimming and pruning activity this early so that we could attend to other emergencies during the rainy season," the mayor said.
Pamintuan added that although there were a number of trees uprooted in Angeles City in the recent years, there were no reported casualties or injuries.
Meanwhile, ACDRRMO Head Francis G. Pangilinan said that "despite the occurrence of several typhoons last year, Angeles was spared from major damages to properties because we were better prepared.”
“This year, we are once again aiming for zero-casualties, as we increase our readiness against possible accidents this rainy season," Pangilinan said.
To date, a total of 80 acacia trees, located along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Sto. Domingo and Barangay Ninoy Aquino and along Arayat Avenue in Barangay Pampang were trimmed.
Before the tree trimming project, the local government has acquired the necessary permits from authorized agencies such as the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (AC-CIO)