The campaign of a group of Cebuanos from a small island town to save more than 700 trees, including those that are half a century old, reminds us again of the need to maintain a judicious balance between infrastructure development and environmental protection. Both are crucial to the progress of any nation but it does not have to be one or the other—if the government wills it, it can do both. The case in Poro, Camotes Island, is not the first and certainly will not be the last in the Philippines’ quest to be a developed country.
The residents have already gathered at least 1,674 signatures to oppose the plan of the Cebu government to cut down the trees to give way to a road widening project. The trees—acacia, “lomboy” (java plum fruit), and bangkal (Leichhardt pine) from 60 to 70 years old, a few even a century old—line the 14-kilometer road that is up for widening. The residents said they support infrastructure improvements but these should not be done at the peril of the environment.
Cebu’s provincial officials have met this week with the residents and clergy of Poro, whose parish priest is leading the petition. Before the dialogue, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she would “listen to all sides and look for a possible middle ground.
” She also urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to speak up on the issue “including the decision on how progress should go with the environment.” She would later explain to the petitioners that cu.
