MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City, dubbed as Metro Manila’s green lung, has taken a step to protect its remaining giant old trees.
Mayor Herbert Bautista recently approved an ordinance prohibiting the cutting or destruction of trees declared as century or heritage trees.
Section 5 of City Ordinance No. 2638-2017 states that the trees “shall be preserved and maintained in its natural state” and shall not be cut or destroyed “except for medical, public emergency, public safety and botanical reasons.”
Bautista directed a special technical committee led by the Quezon City Parks Development to make an annual inventory of trees in the city.
The ordinance stated that trees identified to have lived for more than 100 years shall be declared as century trees while those which have not yet reached 100 years old but are considered ecological, historically, or culturally valuable or belonging to rare species shall be declared as heritage trees and shall receive the same protection as century trees.
Also, trees that are adjacent or near a water source and whose cutting or destruction will disrupt or destroy the water source shall also be declared as heritage trees and shall receive the same protection provided for under the ordinance.
The city government will install a metal plate upon the declaration of a tree as either century or heritage tree.
Meanwhile, century trees that are identified and found to be in a private lot shall be covered by a written agreement between the lot owner, the city and barangay governments.
The agreement shall state that the private lot owner had voluntarily approved the trees to be declared as century or heritage trees and shall enjoy the protection under the ordinance.
Violators face a fine of P5,000 per violation and/or imprisonment of six months.
In lieu of a court case, the city government may choose to impose an administrative fine of P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,000 for the third offense.
The ordinance likewise institutionalizes an annual search for century and heritage trees within the week marking Arbor Day.
A tree celebration activity for centruty and heritage trees shall also be conducted during Arbor Day.