Saturday, January 21, 2012

Luneta Hill, Baguio City

Luneta Hill was where the famous Pines Hotel once stood.

Luneta Hill is one of the very few remaining forested areas in Baguio's Central Business District, and is home to mature pine trees, which Baguio is famous for, and other tree species that continue to provide breathable air in the otherwise already heavily-polluted Central Business District. It also helps in containing water preventing the flooding of lower-lying areas in the vicinity.

Luneta Hill is where a mall, SM City Baguio, was built which opened in 2003. SM has since been enjoying a very huge market share, displacing a lot of smaller businesses in the city. Despite this advantage, SM City Baguio wants to expand, which would affect 182 mature trees in the area. While they claim that they will not cut any of the trees and will instead "earthball" them to be transferred somewhere else, and that what they're building is a "green building," the environmental impact of their expansion plan will greatly affect the community and the well-being of the people.

On January 20, 2012, thousands of people marched down Session Road to protest the impending harming of trees up on Luneta Hill. Then on February 5, 2012, led by Dr. Mike Bengwayan, hundreds of volunteers planted more than 182 pines trees at Pine Trees of the World Park in protest of SM City Baguio’s expansion. This was followed by a 12-hour concert by local musicians and guest artists to show their support for the cause.
We are here to protect Baguio’s remaining forests that give us air to breath, water to nurture life and protection from natural calamities. We are here because this is what Baguio is all about: a community of caring people and a healthful, nurturing natural environment!

SAVE BAGUIO FROM CORPORATE GREED!
SAVE BAGUIO’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT!
SAVE THE 182 TREES ON LUNETA HILL!

No comments:

Post a Comment