ANGELES CITY — The Save the Trees Coalition (STC), environmentalists, and volunteers appealed to the public anew to help raise funds with its continuous efforts to save the 259 trees along the Fil-Am Friendship circumferential road here over the weekend.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 59 here dissolved the temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) of the 259 full-grown trees of various species that are now set to be cut by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to pave the way for the road widening project by the government.
On Jan. 10, 2020, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. asked for the suspension of the cutting of the trees. The TEPO was then issued on Feb. 7, 2020 in favor of the plaintiffs by RTC Branch 59.
In a phone interview on Wednesday with one of the plaintiffs, Dina Zulueta said the TEPO is still valid, pertaining to the decision of RTC Branch 59, until they (plaintiffs) file another appeal within 15 days upon receiving the copy of the order.
“Actually, they can’t cut the trees yet because based on the decision, there is a clause that says the TEPO is “dissolved” upon the finality of the decision. So, the TEPO is still valid until we apply for another appeal on time which is within 15 days from the time we received the copy which was only yesterday (Feb. 2),” said Zulueta.
“The appeal has already been drafted. We will then go to the Court of Appeals and then if need be, we go to the Supreme Court,” she added.
Zulueta also said there are alternative options that they are currently looking into and have offered such as earth balling and road structure design that can incorporate well with the trees without the need to uproot any.
“During the trial proceedings and hearings, weexplored and offered some alternatives such as earth balling and incorporating of the trees in the road widening project. We are open to options and alternative solutions,” she shared.
“We have an architect who is part of our group and she submitted a design wherein the trees are incorporated including a safe bike lane apart from the circumferential road itself,” she furthered. “If the earth balling will proceed, we can save as many trees as we can. We have started to look for adopters also and one of them is Tibby’s Farm. We are also going to invite the whole community in Angeles City both inside and outside Clark, or those who have spaces.”
STC is currently holding a fundraising project by selling face masks as legal actions require monetary expenses. To show support for the cause and to help raise funds, you may refer to the image below for details on how to purchase face masks.
