PRAYERS and good luck are needed to save some 259 trees which will be affected by the ongoing road widening along the Friendship Circumferential Road in Angeles City.
Thus stated the Save the Trees Coalition STC which recently disclosed that the group recently filed a temporary environmental protection order in court to save the trees which are mostly acacia.
“Prayers and good luck to the Save The Trees Coalition, especially our volunteer lawyers and plaintiffs, who filed for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order for the Friendship 259 trees against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 sitting as an Environmental Court,” the coalition said.
The summary hearings started Tuesday, January 28, according to the group.
“May justice, truth, and love for Mother Earth prevail for the sake of the trees and our sake too.”
The STC was invited to attend a committee hearing in aid of legislation last Tuesday under the Angeles City Council Committee on Environment chaired by Councilor Alfie Bonifacio.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office officials failed to attend the hearing while the DPWH sent its representatives to the hearing.
The STC stated that it remains steadfast in its stand against tree cutting and urges the city council to look into the road widening plans of DPWH so the committee can come up with more eco-friendly and sustainable solutions to address worsening traffic in the city.
“Please continue sharing our petition so our voices will be heard!” the group urged its members and the people of Angeles.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. earlier asked the DPWH to suspend the cutting of the trees after his constituents and environmentalists aired strong opposition.