CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda is securing the survival of 452 trees along the City of San Fernando-Angeles road.
This, amidst early talks about the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) road widening projects in the thoroughfare connecting the two adjacent cities.
In the meeting with the DPWH, Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Governor Delta has appealed on Friday to have the trees relocated, not cut.
The governor enjoined private institutions and the local government unit (LGUs) of San Fernando to do earth balling instead of cutting the trees down so that trees could live longer.
He also mentioned the private institutions and concerned LGU shall shoulder expenses needed for earth balling.
Governor Delta said, “Sa totoo lang po, ayokong i-cut. Dapat i-ball lang sila at i-relocate sa mas secured na areas kasi sayang ang buhay ng mga puno.”
“Ang gusto ko lang pong tutukan kung kanino natin itatanim ito na may commitment talagang mag-alaga hanggang 6 months,” he added.
To head-start this, Governor Delta pledged the government center in Mexico town as one of the relocation areas for the Camachile and Acacia trees.
He also urged the attendees to look for potential individuals who could take care of the trees.
City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago meanwhile suggested relocation on the sites of the on-going park projects in the capital city. PCCI President Rene Romero seconded this, saying the said parks may become tourist destinations once realized.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) Officer Laudemir Salac lauded this effort because no trees would be harmed in the process.
Salac expressed, “Naa-amaze po ako dahil nahanapan natin ng proper place na paglalagyan ang mga puno kasi iyon talaga ang concern ng governor.”
He also offered DENR’s plantations in Floridablanca, Porac, and Arayat as relocation sites. However, the PENRO officer requested to tap some foresters and experts in order to make the relocation scientific and systematic, abiding by laws.
DPWH 3 Regional Planning and Design Division Chief Engr. Arthur Santos said the department has initially planned to widen the four-lane road into six lanes, but the project was halted from pushing through because of the trees currently standing in the San Fernando-Angeles road.
Governor Delta acknowledged the need for road widening especially now the neighboring cities incite heavier flow of traffic due to increase in vehicles; however, he believed the environment must not suffer in doing this. — KEANU AEBRAMH G. COSTALES