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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DENR suspends tree cutting along Quirino Avenue

DENR suspends tree cutting along Quirino Avenue

Published May 27, 2026 12:55 pm

At A Glance

  • DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the suspension will allow a more detailed review of existing safeguards, including possible improvements to earth-balling measures.
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has suspended the cutting of trees along Quirino Avenue in Manila while it reviews mitigation measures for an ongoing infrastructure project.
DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the suspension will allow a more detailed review of existing safeguards, including possible improvements to earth-balling measures.
“Right now, ‘yung cutting, I voluntarily stopped and we’re agreeable to this. Itigil muna, pag-aralan pa nang husto baka may mga maidagdag pa doon sa earth-balling (Right now, the cutting has been voluntarily stopped and we agreed to it. Let it be paused first so we can study it more thoroughly, there might still be additions to the earth-balling measures),” Cuna said during a forum on Wednesday, May 27.
He said development must be balanced with environmental protection and that progress should not disregard environmental safeguards.
However, he also reiterated the need to recognize both development needs and environmental limits in pursuing infrastructure projects.
“We reiterate, wala pong may gustong magputol ng puno but this is the reality of the world we live in. Kaya nga na-coin ‘yung term na sustainable development dahil kinikilala po natin na for our economy to grow and improve, kailangan ng development. Wala po tayong magagawa doon (We reiterate, nobody wants to cut trees but this is the reality of the world we live in. That is why the term sustainable development was coined because we recognize that for our economy to grow and improve, development is necessary. We cannot avoid that),” Cuna said.
“Pero kahit na itong development ay kailangan natin gawin, kinakailangan ng ating bansa, on the other side hindi po natin pwede kalimutan ang environmental protection at kung ano ang impact nitong mga development sa ating komunidad (But even if we need to pursue this development, which our country requires, we must not forget environmental protection and the impact of these developments on our communities),” he added.
Cuna said the project followed a mitigation hierarchy process and was coordinated with local government units and barangays along the alignment, which had given their consent for the infrastructure works.
READ MORE:
mb.com.ph/2026/05/26/denr-assures-strict-safeguards-phased-rehabilitation-in-tree-cutting-activities
The tree cutting along Quirino Avenue has drawn criticism from environmental groups and church leaders.
Earlier, Caritas Philippines president Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said the removal of mature trees along Quirino Avenue directly harms commuters, workers, and families facing extreme urban heat.
“Why must ‘development’ always demand the sacrifice of the vulnerable? Why are our cities designed for vehicles and concrete instead of for children, workers, pedestrians, and the elderly?” he asked.
“We refuse to hide this injustice behind bureaucratic language. What is legal on paper is not automatically moral in the eyes of God,” he added.
The clearing is part of the Southern Access Link Expressway project of San Miguel Corporation linking Skyway Stage 3 to Roxas Boulevard.

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DENR DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES SECRETARY JUAN MIGUEL CUNA TREE CUTTING QUIRINO AVENUE
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