Tree-cutting strips Manila’s streets of shade

The Quirino Avenue stretch is among those affected by ongoing works.

For residents who pass through Quirino Avenue daily, what was once a shaded urban stretch has now become an exposed, dusty walkway, with commuters and pedestrians immediately feeling the difference in heat and comfort.

Photos circulating online show sections of the avenue stripped of trees to make way for an ongoing infrastructure project. The once-green corridor has become noticeably barren, intensifying concerns about how urban development is affecting everyday spaces.

The project vs. the canopy

A notice from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region confirms that a tree-cutting and earth-balling permit was issued for the stretch from San Marcelino Street to Roxas Boulevard for San Miguel Corporation’s Southern Access Link Expressway construction.

Concerned resident Angel Bawalan described the loss as heartbreaking, recalling how the trees once defined the area and made daily life more bearable amid the heat.

The pedestrian toll

She told radar Business that nearby establishments share similar frustrations, with workers and passersby noting how the absence of that shade has made even short walks more exhausting.

Trees have long served as natural buffers against urban heat, reducing surface temperatures and providing relief in densely built environments.

As cities continue to expand, the loss of green spaces poses a difficult reality, where infrastructure comes at the expense of nature and livability.

 

 

Manila’s ‘green lungs’ are being paved over. Trees along Quirino Avenue have been cut for a new expressway project.