SM City Baguio Cuts Down 60 Pine Trees Like a Thief in the Night

 
Wazzup Pilipinas!

SM City Baguio is under fire for cutting down at least 60 pine trees like it's a heinous crime. The pine trees were gone overnight via a rushed job employing hundreds of men. Everyone was in a frenzy over the Pope being in the country that only a few people noticed. If our figures are right, there are now182 pine trees gone in this portion of SM City Baguio.

Is bringing down 60 more pine trees enough justification to give way to an environment-friendly sky park? Is a "green" building, 2,000 trees already planted at the Busol watershed and 30,000 more within the next 3 years, sounds fair over a total of 182 uprooted trees, and possibly more soon?

Is SM City Baguio continuing to become the murderer of helpless pine trees as it blatantly rushed the uprooting of pine trees infront of the mall so they could build an expansion? Nagtatanong lang po.

Did SM City Baguio take advantage of the fact that our attention was focused on the Pope, so they cut down the trees thinking nobody would notice? Is "Money is the root of all the uprooting of trees!"

Dear @Pontifex, after your mass at SM MOA, SM City Baguio cuts the pine trees stealthily like a thief in the night. They come to take away your local businesses, and your trees too. If the pope was informed by the fate of those trees at SM City Baguio, I'm sure he would've cancelled the MOA event. There were rumors saying that they cut the trees during the exact moment the Sy siblings were shaking Pope Francis' hands. Oh humans! Such questionable stewards of God's creation.

We were informed that the Baguio city court ruled against groups opposing SM Baguio's plan to remove pine trees. The SM Group has defended the cutting saying they have the approval of authorities ever since the Court of Appeals lifted the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) last December 2014.

“SM mall in Baguio has secured the final approval and necessary permits for this project from the pertinent agencies to handle this project. Prior to this, inputs from various community groups have been gathered and considered to help put this project together.”

SM said the Sky Park project “will feature green walls consisting of live plants will help improve air quality, making the mall both relaxing and enjoyable for the whole family." "It also consists of a sewerage treatment plant (STP), and an underground rainwater catchment tank in the basement. The excess space of catchment tank will provide many additional parking space-will help decongest traffic along Upper Session Road."

Concerned citizens in Baguio city displays the message "You can kill the trees but you cannot kill our spirits!" and a black balloon protest was held yesterday. Where are the rest of the pilgrims that can help fight for the environment or are we being too overprotective since some are saying sacrifices should be made to make way to a more progressive country? Do you agree?

To be sarcastic, Thank You, Thank you, Ang babait ninyo SM City Baguio. Thanks for cutting down the trees that our ancestors took care for many years.