Pastoral Letter

Pastoral Letter

"Fill the Earth and Subdue it..." (Gen. 1:28)

To our dear fellow citizens of Baguio City and Benguet:

May God's Peace be with you!

We write you this letter in response to a question directed to me and to the leadership of Catholic Church in Baguio City: "Bishop, what are you doing to stop the cutting of our trees at Luneta Hill by SM?" This question arises because of the official news that the cases laid before the Regional Trial Court against SM were junked by the presiding judge (Sun Star, Dec. 15 and 16, 2012). We are stupefied that the judge ruled in favor of SM, dismissing the three environmental cases, ruling that "the mall extension and the earthballing of trees in their Luneta Hill property will not cause irreparable injury to the Environmental Protection Order issued on April 10, 2012 which had pervented SM from the earthballing that it had already begun.

What is our reaction to this court ruling?

First, we are shocked at how the court disregarded the opinion of our witnesses as "non-experts" in environmental matters, and we protest. we cannot take that court opinion sitting. With due respect to the Honorable Judge who presided over the case, we cannot accept its ABSURD statement that earthballing of those trees will not cause irreparable damage to the environment or to us, the Constituents. This statement goes against everything being said about climate change and the need for us citizens to study and observe and protect our environment. We are forbidden to cut a single tree in our backyar without permit from the DENR. We have been enjoined and encouraged to plant trees everywhere we can. And we are obeying, already for many years, because we agree the value of trees for our health, for clean air, translated into production by trees of oxygen, and absorption of Carbon Dioxide.

Of course, apparently, the ruling of the Honorable Judge based itself on the opinion of the so-called experts from DENR. Those so-called experts have advertised their incompetence in hte way they earthballed the trees at Luneta Hill, as we can see from the photographs taken after the fact. The way they did the earthballing, is what the internet lists as "how to get rid of a tree stump in your yard: mutilate and cut off the feeder roots..." Or, how to prevent a tree from surviving.

Sorry, but in this case, we on our part, rely more on our environmentalists and our farmers, of which we have plenty in Baguio-Benguet, than on those so-called experts relied upon by the court.

Secondly, on SM's claim that they need to cut those trees and bring down the hill because of erosion problem: Do they have certification from the Mines and Geoscience Bureau that the problem is that serious, which calls for that drastic solution? We plant trees and bamboo everywhere to contain and prevent erosion, why should we do it differently here in the case of Luneta Hill? We know of Baguio Engineers who can present a better solution.

Thirdly, we own those trees at Luneta Hill; we want to protect them.

There are persons stills living in Baguio who say they planted those trees at Luneta Hill. We can thank them for that. They did it for us and for future generations of Baguio residents. we need those trees, for the ever-growing populations in Bguio, with the increasing numbers of motor vehicles plying our Central Business District. we need those healthy, grown trees to help absorb the heavy pollution which has reached high levels, as we ourselves can feel.

SM may claim they bought that hill in which the trees stand (even if they cannot show a title to that property, which makes it subject to doubt on its legality or authenticity...) but, in the name of civiv-mindedness, they cannot just do what they want with that property. They should feel that we need those trees...

And therefore, we plead with SM: spare those trees! We plead with our leaders of the City: move to recall the permit given to SM for its expansion program! Build parking facilities elsewhere!!!

We plead with our fellor citizens of Baguio: let your opinion be heard by the City and SM!

Baguio needs YOU. This is one moment when we hear reechoing God's instruction to our first parents: "fill the earth and subdue it..." (Gen.1:28). Let us join up in taking care of our corner of the world.


(sgd) BISHOP +CARLITO J. CENZON, CICM, DD


Diocese of Baguio, Bishop's Residence, January 13, 2013