HYPOCRITICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS

The Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) issued just today, 23rd April, by the Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch No. 6  against the balling of the much ballyhooed SM trees confuses me endlessly, indeed! 

True, the cutting of trees is prohibited under Republic Act No. 3571.  Nevertheless, even a very cursory look into the sheer title of this law, -- to wit: "An Act to Prohibit the Cutting, Destroying or Injuring of Planted or Growing Trees, Flowering Plants and Shrubs or Plants of Scenic Values Along Public Roads, in Plazas, Parks, School Premises or in any Other Public Ground -- will immediately tell one that the SM is totally within its  right because,  first,  the trees in question are growing inside a private property owned by SM, not in a public ground, which is that which the law precisely forbids.  Second, SM is not destroying the trees at all; they are to be transferred to another property also owned by SM.  Third, SM has even committed itself to plant 50 new saplings for every tree to be balled and transferred.  And fourth, the balling and replanting of the trees has had the prior formal permit of the DENR.  What more do these Baguio City protesters want? 

Alas, I find it rather strange and pathetic that even certain otherwise well respected opinion makers --  Neal Cruz (who is not an architect), for example, in his recent column in the Inquirer -- wish to meddle with the architectural design of the new mall that SM plans to put up in Baguio by suggesting that the trees be retained in the future mall's parking lot.  I just wish to tell Mr. Cruz that his "where's Baguio without pine trees," or something to that effect is mere motherhood statement.  Methinks DENR Secretary Paje knew his onions relatively better, when he recently asked the government to choose between trees and progress. That's like saying  "there's no free lunch."    

Who does not love green surroundings?  But let's do so without losing our plain common sense.  it seems to me these so-called "environmentalists" in our midst and times have grown incorrigibly hypocritical in their clearly misguided concern for the environment.   Worse, the oftentimes ignorant public -- unfortunately even some courts of law, for that matter -- are swallowing the say-so of these self-proclaimed "Protectors of Nature" kuno hook, line and sinker.