Environment advocacy group Interface Development Interventions (IDIS), Inc., is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways 11 (DPWH 11) to review its road widening plan which will involve cutting down of Narra trees in front of Ateneo de Davao University’s Grade School and Junior High School campus along McArthur Highway.
The group expressed objection to the agency’s plan to cut down eight trees, mostly Narra along the sidewalk of the said school to give way for a laybay or road widening development plan.
Chinkie Pelino-Golle, executive director of IDIS, said the group is urging all parties involved DPWH, city government of Davao and management of ADDU to sit down again, review the development plan for lay bay or road widening in the area and come-up with a revised design that will incorporate the trees, not remove them.
“It is the only and best option. As of now, we cannot afford to cut more trees in the urban areas,” said Golle through Messenger.
In a statement, IDIS stated that with the current situation of the city where its Urban Heat Index is increasing, it is of utmost importance to have trees in the roads and parks to allow walkability, and decrease heat and pollution in the city.
On normal days, the location of the school is among the areas in Davao City where the traffic is heavy due to the loading and unloading of passengers of the public utility vehicles (PUJs) and private vehicles.
The group believes that while the traffic issue in the area should be addressed but there are other strategies that could be done in order to spare the trees. It also cited the current technological and engineering approaches can really integrate these trees in the agency’s development design.
The group is hopeful that the stakeholders and concerned government agencies in Davao City will give emphasis on the importance of having fully-grown trees in the urban area and keeping it to make the city greener and more livable.
In a broadcast interview with one of the radio stations, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio expressed support on the call of the environmental groups in Davao City not to cut the trees in the front of AdDU Grade School.
