CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Trees are replacable, human beings are not.”
Thus said prominent businessman Rene Romero when asked about his position on the planned cutting of trees along McArthur Highway to pave the way for the major rehabilitation of the national road.
Romero said he would support the plans of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to cut all trees along the highway in Pampanga as “these will open the door to real progress and development.”
“Can you return the life of one person taken by the accident along the highway involving some of the hazardous, out-of-position trees?” said Romero, president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham), referring to the numerous accidents when trees and its branches fell on passing vehicles or when motorists slammed on trees.
Romero said he would be willing to plant tress on his own to replace the trees to be cut along the highway. He added that he had planted mangroves and trees for the past several years, mostly in vacant areas.
“And I will still plant even if the trees will not be cut along the road,” Romero said, adding that he will plant “bigger trees” to address the issue on global warming and capability of trees to store carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Romero vowed to help monitor the DPWH’s commitment to plant 30 trees for every one tree cut to give way to the expansion project.
He said a six-lane highway will attract more investors in the province, opening opportunities for employment.
Romero also said lives will be nourished and saved once progress is achieved through the development of major roads in the province.
He said the trees along the highway, most of which are Acacia, had served their purpose and “now is a different time.” He added that the population had tremendously increased and business opportunities and jobs are needed to fight poverty.
“We should not be emotional but concern for the general welfare of the majority affected by poverty,’ he said.
“If you have a small house and you have to expand it for the comfort of your family, will you not be able to sacrifice some trees blocking the expansion? Will you be contended living in a crowded house when you can replace those trees cut to give way to expansion?” said Romero.
He also said that he and some businessmen had aggressively asked the national government to allot funds for the expansion of the highway linking Pampanga to Tarlac in the north and portions of Metro Manila in the south.
”Now we have the funding, we can’t let it go in the name of progress,” stressed Romero. He said a fully developed infrastructure project would allow “access, convergence, and progress.”
Citing Singapore and portions of the USA, Romero said that these places had banned the cutting trees because the urban development is well-planned.
Thus said prominent businessman Rene Romero when asked about his position on the planned cutting of trees along McArthur Highway to pave the way for the major rehabilitation of the national road.
Romero said he would support the plans of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to cut all trees along the highway in Pampanga as “these will open the door to real progress and development.”
“Can you return the life of one person taken by the accident along the highway involving some of the hazardous, out-of-position trees?” said Romero, president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham), referring to the numerous accidents when trees and its branches fell on passing vehicles or when motorists slammed on trees.
Romero said he would be willing to plant tress on his own to replace the trees to be cut along the highway. He added that he had planted mangroves and trees for the past several years, mostly in vacant areas.
“And I will still plant even if the trees will not be cut along the road,” Romero said, adding that he will plant “bigger trees” to address the issue on global warming and capability of trees to store carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Romero vowed to help monitor the DPWH’s commitment to plant 30 trees for every one tree cut to give way to the expansion project.
He said a six-lane highway will attract more investors in the province, opening opportunities for employment.
Romero also said lives will be nourished and saved once progress is achieved through the development of major roads in the province.
He said the trees along the highway, most of which are Acacia, had served their purpose and “now is a different time.” He added that the population had tremendously increased and business opportunities and jobs are needed to fight poverty.
“We should not be emotional but concern for the general welfare of the majority affected by poverty,’ he said.
“If you have a small house and you have to expand it for the comfort of your family, will you not be able to sacrifice some trees blocking the expansion? Will you be contended living in a crowded house when you can replace those trees cut to give way to expansion?” said Romero.
He also said that he and some businessmen had aggressively asked the national government to allot funds for the expansion of the highway linking Pampanga to Tarlac in the north and portions of Metro Manila in the south.
”Now we have the funding, we can’t let it go in the name of progress,” stressed Romero. He said a fully developed infrastructure project would allow “access, convergence, and progress.”
Citing Singapore and portions of the USA, Romero said that these places had banned the cutting trees because the urban development is well-planned.
