23/05/2026
NILAD strongly condemn the continuing tree-cutting operations in Quirino Avenue, Manila to give way to the construction of the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX) of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which has become one of the reasons behind the massive cutting of trees and the destruction of urban green spaces. In a time of worsening heat, stronger floods, and polluted air, the removal of trees further deepens the ecological crisis faced by ordinary people. Trees are not mere decorations that can easily be replaced—they serve as protection for communities, sources of cleaner air, and barriers against the devastating effects of climate change. Every tree cut down for so-called “development” comes at the expense of the people and the environment.
We hold the Government accountable for allowing the commercialization and destruction of nature in favor of profit-driven projects that benefit only a few. Public spaces, green areas, and natural resources are continuously sacrificed for infrastructure, corporate interests, and private gain while communities are left vulnerable to extreme heat and disasters. This reflects a system that treats the environment not as a shared resource to protect, but as a commodity to exploit.
We must collectively resist and condemn these destructive projects and defend the environment from further exploitation. Silence and inaction will only pave the way for more ecological destruction and greater suffering for future generations. We call on communities, youth, workers, and all concerned citizens to unite in demanding genuine environmental protection, accountability from those in power, and development that prioritizes people and sustainability over profit. The struggle to defend our environment is ultimately a struggle for the people’s future.
