SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corp. (SMC SALEX) said tree management activities for a planned elevated toll road in Manila are being carried out under safeguards approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and a replacement planting program, as it addressed concerns over trees affected by works along Quirino Avenue.
The activities form part of the pre-construction phase of the 3.97-km 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 needed to build the elevated expressway along the approved alignment. The company said several design options were studied, and the current alignment was found to be the most feasible because it meets structural and engineering requirements while reducing displacement of residents and avoiding wider disruption to public and private infrastructure.
The activities are covered by permits issued by the DENR following 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 the City of Manila, while the rest 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 using this method. The process 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 that are not suitable for transplantation.
The company said it is currently 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 identify further ways to minimize 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 over a mandatory three-year period.
The company said it is coordinating with the DENR and other concerned agencies to identify opportunities 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 longer-term effort to restore green cover in areas affected by the project, and forms part of its broader compliance with its Environmental Compliance Certificate. The company said this includes mitigation measures during construction and urban greening components upon completion of the project.
SALEX is a 40.65-km elevated expressway network intended to give motorists and cargo vehicles a more direct route across key parts of Metro Manila, easing congestion along main roads.
The project is designed to help ease pressure on major corridors such as 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.
