City struggles to catch tree cutters as CCTV gaps stall probe

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

An Iloilo City government official said on Monday, May 25, that the lack of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in key areas is hampering efforts to identify those responsible for the recent cutting of native trees planted under the city’s urban greening program.

City General Services Office (GSO) head Neil Ravena said four native bani trees and one fire tree were cut along Iloilo Sunset Boulevard, with initial investigation indicating that they were likely cut early Monday morning.

“It is difficult for us to identify the perpetrators because there is no CCTV in the area, and the act is being done at night or early morning,” Ravena said.

Ravena said he already raised the concern with Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, including the possible installation of CCTV cameras in affected areas.

“The problem is that there is no distribution line in the area that will supply the CCTVs. We will have to discuss it with the mayor so we can have a plan and we can expedite the ancillary installations,” he said.

The affected trees are part of the city government’s ongoing urban greening initiative, which would improve conditions along Iloilo Sunset Boulevard, a major coastal road known for heavy bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

“We need to expedite the greening of Sunset Boulevard so that our bike lanes will not be exposed to extreme heat,” Ravena said.

Ravena said more than 5,000 native trees have already been planted along the Sunset Boulevard stretch from Tabucan in Mandurriao district to the boundary of Oton.

He added that around 20,000 ornamental plants were also planted in the area.

The city government selected native tree species because of their fast-growing and shade-providing characteristics, especially in the boulevard’s open coastal environment where temperatures and heat index levels are high.

“It is very frustrating on our part, especially for those who planted these trees. We deliberately selected native species so the boulevard would have shade because the heat index in the area is very high due to its open space,” he said.

Ravena said repeated incidents of tree-cutting and vandalism continue to undermine the city government’s greening efforts intended to improve conditions for commuters and cyclists.

“Those are our plans, but when we encounter these kinds of people, we try our best to improve the city, and yet they are destroying it. I do not know what is going on in their minds, and why they are doing this,” he said.

Ravena said he instructed personnel to file a police blotter regarding the latest incident.

The latest case followed earlier incidents of tree damage, including the cutting of at least 15 native banilad trees in the Green Meadows area in January and reported damage to palm trees in Loboc, Lapuz.

The urban greening program forms part of broader efforts by Iloilo City to position itself as a climate-resilient and bicycle-friendly city, an identity reinforced by its network of protected bike lanes and its recognition in recent years as a model for non-motorized transport in the Philippines. Tree cover along coastal roads such as Sunset Boulevard is considered critical for shielding cyclists and pedestrians from rising heat index levels, which routinely climb into dangerous ranges during the dry season.

“For those who are damaging our plants, you are also the ones who will benefit from this in the end. It is very frustrating for us in the city government to exert effort to improve the city, but it seems there is no sense of ownership,” Ravena said.