The Philippine Online Chronicles

The protests against the renovation of SM Baguio that will affect more than a hundred trees continue as the dialogue requested by the city mayor are still pending in the city council.

According to a Sun Star report, the city council could not schedule the dialogue requested by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan because they are still deliberating the city budget.

Baguio city residents, environmentalists and several other groups were against the SM renovation plans because it will affect the trees planted in the controversial Luneta Hills property.

Thousands joined the protest staged in Upper Session Road in Baguio City last January 20 to show their opposition to the planned transfer of 182 alnus and pine trees to pave way for the construction of a 7-storey parking and entertainment plaza.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) has since released its statement saying that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Baguio City government have permitted the transfer of the said trees. In an article published in the Inquirer, the mall management also said that the blueprint of the redevelopment plan adheres to the “globally accepted 'green' building standards.”

Kabataan Partylist Raymond Palatino filed a resolution last January 30 in the House of Representatives directing the House committees on natural resources and ecology to conduct an inquiry on the legality of the permit granted by the DENR.

House Resolution 2069, once approved, also directs the department to immediately suspend the clearance and permit granted to SMDC.

“Baguio City is one of the country’s premiere tourist destinations because of its cool climate, panoramic view and bounty of pine trees. The charm of the city relies on the presence of trees within a highly urbanized city," Palatino said.

PNoy finalized the sale

Meanwhile, Sun Star reported on Tuesday that President Benigno Aquino III finalized the granting of full ownership of the Luneta Hills property to SMDC.

Citing a copy of the absolute deed of sale of the property, the newspaper reported that Aquino made the transfer of the national property final, with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa signing the document on the President’s behalf.

It was Aquino's mother, former president Corazon Aquino who initially decided to sell the property. In May 1992, the then-Aquino administration granted the order of award to SMDC after topping the bidding process held a month earlier. The 34.528 square-meter property was sold for almost PHP 70 million and was fully paid by the mall management five years later.