IT’S ironic that Baguio City, also known as the City of Pines is looking at a foreboding possibility of saying goodbye to a total of 182 trees to pave the way for the construction of a parking lot. SM Development Corporation’s intention to cut down and uproot fully-grown trees and saplings alike has caused a lot of ruckus within the community, particularly for groups and individuals who advocate the importance of trees in the ecosystem.
The public’s outcry to this issue is pretty much clangorous in social networking sites and other broadcast and print media—seeking as much attention from everyone with hopes of attracting more support for the discontinuance of this project.
The public’s outcry to this issue is pretty much clangorous in social networking sites and other broadcast and print media—seeking as much attention from everyone with hopes of attracting more support for the discontinuance of this project.
Baguio was and is being packaged as a prime tourist destination of the country, but with these recent turn of events, it’s seemingly being invested more as a business hub—a citadel for magnates who keep on expanding their income-generating industries that can eventually lead to environmental degradation in the long run. To quote a statement from the petitioners, “Economy at the expense of the environment is greed.” Indeed, such is the case as undoubtedly, the majority is not to be profited by the result of this action. Only chosen stakeholders will enjoy its foreseen benefits.
The City of Pines is a bastion of rich, indigenous and heterogeneous culture, knowledge, family-oriented and a supposedly eco-tourist destination; eco-tourism that could definitely benefit the majority in this urban area. Apparently however, what has been one of the primary trademarks of the City which is the abundance of trees is being sacrificed. Instead of furthering eco-tourism, the environment is being compensated as reflected by the actions being undertaken by those concerned and even authorized agencies that can presumably stop the pursuance of this impending project but instead permitted it.
The economic gains are always there, very tempting. But if this means putting the environment at risk especially if only a few are to take advantage of the rewards that are to be raked in is callous and a manifestation of being iron-hearted when it comes to what this would mean to the whole community.
The rise and construction of infrastructures brought about by business establishments entails permanent environmental disturbance that the war between these two aspects has raged on countless times already. Mutual obligations among those involved are not observed hence mutual benefits are far from being achieved. The struggle between private investors and/or profiteers and the local inhabitants will persist if those concerned are not acting on their mandates.
This ominous threat by SMDC has spurred the rise of Princess Mononoke personalities in Baguio. Groups and individuals who will expend all means possible to halt the death sentence of these trees. It is always hoped that the relationship between humans and nature be cyclical and mutual, but until greedy wolves continue to prowl a community’s ancient grounds, the balance will be far from being maintained.
The City of Pines is a bastion of rich, indigenous and heterogeneous culture, knowledge, family-oriented and a supposedly eco-tourist destination; eco-tourism that could definitely benefit the majority in this urban area. Apparently however, what has been one of the primary trademarks of the City which is the abundance of trees is being sacrificed. Instead of furthering eco-tourism, the environment is being compensated as reflected by the actions being undertaken by those concerned and even authorized agencies that can presumably stop the pursuance of this impending project but instead permitted it.
The economic gains are always there, very tempting. But if this means putting the environment at risk especially if only a few are to take advantage of the rewards that are to be raked in is callous and a manifestation of being iron-hearted when it comes to what this would mean to the whole community.
The rise and construction of infrastructures brought about by business establishments entails permanent environmental disturbance that the war between these two aspects has raged on countless times already. Mutual obligations among those involved are not observed hence mutual benefits are far from being achieved. The struggle between private investors and/or profiteers and the local inhabitants will persist if those concerned are not acting on their mandates.
This ominous threat by SMDC has spurred the rise of Princess Mononoke personalities in Baguio. Groups and individuals who will expend all means possible to halt the death sentence of these trees. It is always hoped that the relationship between humans and nature be cyclical and mutual, but until greedy wolves continue to prowl a community’s ancient grounds, the balance will be far from being maintained.