Remember the old Marcos property near Mines View?
The one with the dilapidated yet hauntingly beautiful old house surrounded by majestic pine trees, creating an eerie yet serene vibe?
Sadly, that picturesque view is now a distant memory.
They demolished the old house and cut down those towering pines to make way for a multistory building. If you pass by now, the sounds of crows have been replaced by the roar of construction machinery. Some of the remaining pine trees are slowly withering, their leaves turning brown—it looks like they’ll be gone in just a few months. The massive mound of excavated earth is visible from the road at the back (the one going down to Tuding). A luxury condominium is also under construction nearby.
As someone born and raised in Baguio, I can’t help but wonder:
How many more trees have to be sacrificed to make way for these new developments?
According to an article in Baguio Midland Courier, a 2019 inventory done by DENR showed that only 500,000 Benguet pine trees remained out of 2.5 million trees still standing in Baguio. If you would deduct from there the trees they’ve cut from 2020 to the present, how many trees are left now? The once-abundant pine trees that gave our city its iconic name are gradually disappearing, replaced by concrete high-rises and urbanization.
When I was younger, there were few tall buildings in the city. You can count with your fingers the buildings exceeding five storeys high. But now, condominiums are sprouting up everywhere, their concrete structures gradually taking over our green spaces—though thankfully not as tall as those in the capital.
This got me thinking—what would the city look like in ten or twenty years?
Will future generations even have a chance to marvel at ancient, gnarled pine trees?
If we don’t start protecting our trees, our descendants might not even recognize a pine tree or experience the joy of gazing up at those giants, trying to wrap their arms around the massive trunks and feel their rough bark and sticky pine sap.
Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian Prime Minister, defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This should be the guiding principle as Baguio continues to develop and grow.
Sacrificing nature for the sake of progress shouldn’t be the norm. We are responsible for protecting nature for future generations, especially given our environmental crises. While this development boom brings economic benefits, at what cost?
Are these buildings beneficial, or will they just exacerbate Baguio’s growing water and garbage issues? Do we want a future where the City of Pines no longer reflects its name, with concrete replacing the towering pines?
The future of Baguio’s iconic pine trees rests on our shoulders—both the policymakers and the citizens.
Our government officials should prioritize sustainable development plans that integrate green spaces and stricter environmental impact assessments before granting building permits. Councilor Leandro Yangot’s proposal for an urban green space ordinance is a great example.
As citizens, we can support local environmental groups working on reforestation efforts and advocate for stricter environmental policies.
These are powerful ways to make a difference.
Well, that’s just my two cents about the changes I see in our beloved city. What do you think, dear readers? Feel free to share your opinions in the comment box below.
