19 November 2020

HON. MARK A. VILLAR

Secretary of Public Works and Highways
Department of Public Works and Highways
villar.mark@dpwh.gov.ph

RE: PRESERVATION OF 259 TREES IN FRIENDSHIP HIGHWAY, ANGELES CITY

Dear Hon. Villar:

We are member-representatives of Save The Trees Coalition (STC) and concerned

residents of Angeles City, Pampanga. We wanted to reach out to you in the hope that we can
work hand in hand in creating livable streets and public spaces not only for the residents of
Angeles City, but for every Filipino.

That said, we humbly request you to preserve the two hundred and fifty-nine (259)
trees located in Friendship Highway. These trees are to be affected by the road-widening
project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

To protect these trees, we were constrained to file an Injunction case before the
Regional Trial Court, Branch 59 of Angeles City where the trial-on-the-merits is now ongoing. In
the said case, we were also able to secure a Temporary Environmental Protection Order
(TEPO) on behalf of these trees, which is still valid to date.

These 259 trees have been living for decades and serve as an iconic gateway in
Friendship Highway for both residents and passers-by. Especially since it connects important
cities within Pampanga, like Angeles City and San Fernando. We then fear the destruction of
these trees would make a drastic impact on the environmental, historical, and cultural value of
this landmark in Pampanga. We want to protect these trees for the following reasons:

1. The trees along Friendship Highway provide a substantial

amount of shade for all passers-by. Particularly for cyclists,
motorcyclists, and pedestrians. A study by the University of
Manchester showed that increasing tree cover in urban areas by
10% can reduce urban surface temperatures by as much as 4°C.
The loss of this shade then not only creates uncomfortable
conditions for motorists and pedestrians alike but may cause them
to seek other forms of transportation that may worsen road
congestion, such as more cars.

2. The trees along Friendship Highway help filter pollution that

goes through the area, making it safer for residents and
business owners. Without them, we may see a surge of
respiratory ailments, as they had back in 2009 during another
tree-cutting project along McArthur Highway by the DPWH.
 One study in the US noted that urban trees and shrubs removed
an estimated 711,000 metric tons ($3.8 billion value) in total
annual air pollution. And should there be replacement saplings,
they don’t have the capacity to take in as much of the pollution or
provide as much shade as mature trees.

3. The trees along Friendship Highway help improve the

residents' overall health. Researchers from the Universities of
Bristol and East Anglia also found that people living closer to
greener cities were more active and less likely to be overweight or
obese. But people who lived furthest from public parks were 27%
more likely to be overweight or obese. Another study found that
“in cities that are higher green spaces, everyone tends to take
more daily steps, whether male or female, young or old, healthy or
obese.” In Singapore (which is as hot and humid as the
Philippines), the average number of daily steps per person was
5,674 compared to only 4,008 in the Philippines. It has been
estimated that doubling the tree cover in the West Midlands alone
would reduce mortality as a result of poor air quality from
particulates by 140 people per year. 1

4. The trees along Friendship Highway help reduce noise

pollution. Vegetation reduces noise pollution through sound
attenuation, or the reduction of sound intensity. Normal
attenuation of sound occurs as the energy of sound dissipates
over long distances until not enough energy is left to vibrate air
molecules.

5. The trees along Friendship Highway help improve the

residents’ quality of life. According to Felino Palafox, Jr., “A
great street should be a desirable place to be, to spend time, to
live, to play, to work. Second, a great street is physically
comfortable and safe, cooler and shady on a hot summer day and
should not provoke a sense of confinement. Physical safety is
another matter. One should not worry about being hit by a car or
truck. Light, by all means, to see the way and to see others is
quite important as well. Moreover, the best streets encourage
participation, allowing people to be passive participants. The best
streets are those that can be remembered, leaving strong, long-
continuing positive impressions.”2

6. The trees along Friendship Highway help maintain mental

health. Especially in this time of pandemic. Australian
researchers found that members of land conservation groups
experience higher levels of health and well-being than non-
members. The positive health benefits derived from participating
1
Stewart, H., Owen S., Donovan R., MacKenzie R., and Hewitt N. (2002). ‘Trees and Sustainable Urban Air Quality’. Centre
for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster University.
2
Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.palafoxarchitecture.com/content/save-our-trees-good-road-design-
includes-trees?fbclid=IwAR3nwa83ZtPqOO5cujCVfGCUgXrt4zeXSmQk80IOIFhjWQKVzRtHCR0VIKU.
 in conservation activities include improvements to physical health
and general mood and, in addition, to enhanced social capital.3

7. The trees along Friendship Highway serve as a bastion

against the effects of climate change. During this global climate
crisis, trees take in much of the carbon emissions. Cutting trees,
then, adds to the climate emergency in two ways: 1) the method
in which it is done, and 2) the destruction of the tree itself.

8. The trees along Friendship Highway can protect against

typhoons. Researchers note that trees can reduce the wind
speed during the typhoon by 65-75 %, depending on the density
of the trees. They can also regulate the speed of flash floods and
lava flow.

9. The trees along Friendship Highway help reduce flooding.

Trees dissipate the rainwater by 70% before it reaches the
ground. If there is continuous rain, the trees buy time for 30%
rainwater to flow and or get absorbed underneath the soil. This
slows down inevitable flooding to minimal devastating impact. The
roots also help improve the soil's ability to absorb.

We acknowledge that the road-widening project was for the benefit of all Angeleños, but
we believe that this project can be achieved without sacrificing our trees, at the expense of our
environment. We envision highways and streets in Angeles City where trees, motorists, bikers,
and pedestrians are in harmony. The wide streets that you will build in Angeles City can be a
haven for everyone.

Instead of cutting trees down, the DPWH can add new lanes on the right side of the
trees for a service road and/or bike lane. Thus, we offer you an alternative plan for the road-
widening project:

· For the proposed four-lane, with each lane having a 3.35 meter width, 4 the total
carriageway shall be 13.40 meters, giving 8.30 meters both side of the carriageway for
sidewalks (1.5 meters), 2 meters for the trees and landscape, the project then can have
a service road with 4 meters to accommodate maneuvering of cars from commercial
establishments, leaving the main carriageway free of disruption.
· The service road and gap between the subject trees may also act as drop-off points to
public utility vehicles to minimize disturbance of traffic. This technique will also ensure
the safety of the commuters and will also instill discipline as there will only be designated
drop-off points for commuters.
· Other DPWH projects have offered solutions that made old trees coexist with road
widening. For instance, the DPWH had spared the trees along the Visayas State
University’s road stretch from the ongoing national road-widening project. The game-
changing decision was made after former VSU President Paciencia Milan made an

3
Moore M, Townsend M and Oldroyd J. 2006. Linking human and ecosystem health: the benefits of community involvement
in conservation groups. Eco Health 3(4) 255-261.
4
DPWH issuances;Table VIII. G.2 of Rule 8 of the National Building Code.
 appeal to DPWH and presented an alternative plan complementary with VSU’s
landscape.5

Attached in this letter is the proposed Infrastructure Plan, the signatures of those who
want to save the 259 trees and the letter of our City Mayor Carmelo A. Lazatin addressed to
DPWH Pampanga-Third District Engineer Tito Jesus T. Salvador, for your consideration.

We have seen the effects of climate change from the recent typhoons that struck our
country, where most of our kababayans are still devastated. The 259 trees here in Pampanga
have lived for decades and survived strong winds from several typhoons. No amount of new
trees can replace the capacity to retain rainwater and take in as much pollution as these mature
trees.

Lastly, several of these trees in Friendship Highway are Acacia and we know how much
your parents, especially Sen. Cynthia Villar, love Acacia trees, in as much as she always
incorporates Acacia trees in all of her projects. Just like the legacy of your parents in providing a
better place to live, we sincerely hope that you will hear our pleas by making the 259 trees as
your legacy to us, Angeleños.

We look forward to a favorable response – together we can build a sustainable society

where the future generation can have a better world to live in.

MARIA HENEDINA ZULUETA PAMELA FAITH MUSNI

CHARLENE MAGHINANG JOAN BAUL MAGHINANG

Assisted by:

ATTY. BIANCA VIEL CALIGAGAN

Legal Counsel

Copy furnished:

HON. CARMELO A. LAZATIN

City Mayor, Angeles City

HON. TITO JESUS T. SALVADOR

District Engineer, DPWH-Pampanga
3rd District Engineering Office

5
Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.vsu.edu.ph/articles/11-articles/news-obelisk/1567-dpwh-road-
widening-save-the-trees-vsu-campus.