A tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. has started initial clearing works for a planned elevated expressway in Manila, a project aimed at easing traffic congestion across key parts of Metro Manila.
SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corp. said tree management activities for the Manila segment of the Southern Access Link Expressway are being carried out under safeguards approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and a replacement planting program.
The company issued the statement as it addressed concerns over trees affected by project works along Quirino Avenue.
The activities form part of the pre-construction phase of the 3.97-kilometer Manila segment of SALEX, which will pass through portions of Quirino Avenue, San Marcelino Street, and Roxas Boulevard.
SMC SALEX said the clearing works are necessary to build the elevated expressway along the approved alignment. It said several design options were studied, with the current route found to be the most feasible because it meets structural and engineering requirements while minimizing displacement of residents and avoiding wider disruption to public and private infrastructure.
The company said the activities are covered by DENR permits issued after a technical assessment and tree inventory of the project corridor.
Of the affected trees, 94 were found suitable for earth-balling and relocation. More than 30 have already been transferred to other sites in Manila, while the remaining trees will be preserved and relocated where site conditions allow.
SMC SALEX said earth-balling is being pursued where technically feasible, but not all trees can be relocated through the process. It said the method requires unearthing and preserving the root system, which may involve extensive excavation and may not be viable in areas with limited road space, underground utilities, nearby structures, or trees unsuitable for transplantation.
The company said it is conducting a comprehensive review of the affected trees, including their species, age, health, condition, and treatment, to provide an accurate account of which trees were removed, relocated, or replaced and to identify further ways to minimize environmental impact.
Under the permit conditions, SMC SALEX is required to provide 50,700 replacement seedlings consisting of indigenous forest species, as well as fruit-bearing or economically viable species.
The seedlings will be planted in sites designated by DENR-NCR and maintained for a mandatory three-year period.
The company said it is coordinating with the DENR and other agencies to strengthen the greening program, including the possible use of larger saplings in suitable areas, community greening sites, and shade planting where these can be properly maintained.
SMC SALEX said replacement planting is part of a long-term effort to restore green cover in areas affected by the project and forms part of its compliance with its Environmental Compliance Certificate. This includes mitigation measures during construction and urban greening components after project completion.
SALEX is a 40.65-kilometer elevated expressway network intended to provide motorists and cargo vehicles a more direct route across key parts of Metro Manila.
The project is designed to ease pressure on major corridors, including EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, SLEX, and port-area roads, while improving access between Manila, Bulacan, R-10, the Skyway System, and the South Luzon Expressway.