Keeping the Arroceros Forest Park - The Last Lung of Manila.

     Manila is the capital city of the Philippines where different historical  places can be found and visited.  Here lies the great walls of intramuros,  Rizal park and more than a century old churches.   Being one of the most highly urbanized and populated cities in the country,  it earned the title of "the most polluted city" due to highly congestion brought about by over crowding and lack of discipline among the local residents.  Though there is a significant improvement and changes brought about by the strong political will of the president, transforming Manila into a clean and free from pollution is still far from being achieved. 

     But in a very polluted highly urbanized domain that many are not aware of lies a great canopy - a small area of forest known as the " Arroceros forest park -The last lung of Manila."   The Arroceros forest park is the only place in Manila that is free from pollution.   I had a chance to visit the miniature forest and indeed it was remarkable knowing that there is one place in Manila that is very clean and very green.  With the chirping sound of many  birds and the smell of trees, it's hard to believe that you're actually in Manila. 

The Arroceros forest park facing the Pasig river
- Photo courtesy Heritage Collection -

     The Arroceros forest park is located in Antonio Villegas st.,  just a walking distance from Intramuros.  It is 2.2 hectares ( 5.4 acres ) that is home of 61 species of trees,  10 species of birds and 8000 ornamental plants.   Trees that can be found here including those that are more than century old are as follows:  Acasia Mangium,  Acasia auriculiformis,  African tulip tree,  Agoho,  Anahaw, Bayan bunga de china,  Dapdap, Eucalyptus,  Ficus,  Benjamina,  Fire tree,  Indian tree,  Kamagong,  Mahoganny,  McArthur palm,  Molave,  Narra ( the biggest ), Neem, Rain tree,  Rattan,  Rubber tree, Talisay, Teak,  Tiesa and Yucca.   Since the forest park has these series of trees, it helps in cleaning and keeping the air breathable  of the polluted city.   But now it faces a new threat of imminent doom.   In 17th of July 2017,   Joseph Estrada who is current mayor of Manila had proposed to cutdown the trees and had his mindset to establish a gymnasium of Universidad De Manila ( University of Manila) for sports and recreational purposes.   This proposal of the city mayor had caught the attention of media, environmentalists and other conservationalist groups that lead to strong protest against the plan to establish the gymnasium just to save the " Manila's last lung."  But it was feared that such relevant protest may be ignored. 

Background History

     In the early Spanish colonial period,  the area where the forest park stands now used to be a part of the so-called  " Parian."  it was a Chinese trading settlement.   In the 19th century, it was the site of the Compania General de Tabacos de Felipinas during the early American period.  It was then transformed into a military garrison which housed the " Signal corps" at the Cuartel de infanteria and the Surgeon general's office at the Estado mayor.   After the WWII,  the barracks were converted into the head quarters of the Department of Education.

- Photo courtesy of Pinoy Collector -

     In 1993, after the Department of Education transferred to Pasig and through a memorandum, the agreement between the city of Manila and the Winner foundation supported by the former first lady Amelita Ramos, it was agreed  to leave the location for the development of the forest park by the private environmental group.  With the initial of more than century old trees that survived the war, the park now has more than three thousand trees by the Manila seedling park.  Since then the park was referred to as " the last lung of Manila - the Arroceros forest park. "

Top view of the Arroceros forest part ( left ) and Pasig river.
- Photo courtesy of Brigada GMA News info -

The First Political Turmoil 

     In 2003, the forest park became the subject of controversy when the former mayor Lito Atienza ordered it's closure to give way to the construction of school administration and teacher's dormitory.  Large portion of the park despite the strong protest, the construction claimed eigth thousand trees.   After the buildings were completed,  the forest park was reopened in 2007.

Photo of school administration and teacher's dormitory.  The construction of this establishment in a portion of the forest park had claimed eigth thousand trees. 

The Imminent Threat

     In 2008,  the former president Noynoy Aquino asked the civic group to vacate the Arroceros forest park with in 30 days.  The memo included legalities stating that the Winner Foundation should have returned and turned over the property to the city of Manila.  The foundation's 15 year development plan agreement which was extended until 2013 had lapsed. 

      In July 7, 2017, the current mayor Ejercito Estrada had a strong mindset and firmly proposed for the establishment of Manila University's gymnasium.  The said university needed to upgrade it's  facilities to be granted accommodation to give way to the establishment of the so-called gym.   The proposed gym would surely occupy almost 5.4 acres of the forest park that would certainly lead to the cutting down of almost all  the trees. 

The Relevant Protest

     The plan of establishing a gymnasium  has become a controversial issue among environmentalists and other concerned groups.  Many wrote an open letter to the office of the city of Manila to consider preserving the forest  park since it is the only one left in the city.   Many had accused the mayor for neglecting and not giving importance to significant role of the trees in helping keeping the air clean.   Some have even mocked him for not having a "common sense"  for not realizing the importance of trees and knowing that Manila has been suffering from heavy air pollution and destroying the forest can only worsen the situation.

- Photo courtesy of Joma Sulit -

     Because of the strong protest made by different groups of conservationists, the mayor later differed his desicions to reacquire the land after meeting with members of the Winners Foundation Club and other environmentalist groups.  Though as of now,  the construction of the gym may have to wait for a while but still the pending doom of the forest park awaits and there is no certainty that the mayor of Manila will consider keeping it.   A group of environmentalist  -"Gising Maynila ( Wake up Manila) "  posted on social media about fighting for the Arroceros forest park to conserve it and hoping it would reach the President's attention.  President Duterte has been known for his strong political will when it comes to environmental matters.   He was able to give way for the successful rehabilitation of Boracay,  Pasig river and the esteros of Manila. 

     Well,  indeed many have completely  forgotten about what the trees can do for us. Trees are the ones who are responsible for giving us clean and breathable air. Here in the Philippines, many forest were destroyed just to have spaces for different malls and modern establishments to be erected.  It is very frustrating to know that many have become deluded with modernization that many trees has to be sacrificed just to give way to these modern structures .  It is appalling to realize that many politicians and oligarchs are preoccupied with greed and ambitions that had caused many harms indirectly to people by destroying and not conserving our natural resources.  I hope and look forward that the battle to keep the Arroceros forest is far from futile.  It is the only one remaining in the city and the last lung of Manila.

Sources

www.facebook.com/gisingmaynila

www.wheninmanila.com

www.spot.ph

www.newsinfo.net