By Alex Lauricio and Kate Quiambao

Last December 21, 2023, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Administration proceeded with the renovation of the North Car Park despite facing strong opposition from both the student body and faculty. According to the university’s official website, the project aims to enhance on-campus mobility by increasing parking slots from 161 to 217, providing better pedestrian access, installing covered walkways, improving drainage, optimizing traffic flow, and offering a rest area for drivers. 

In this pursuit, a total of 82 trees will be removed, and their wood is said to be recycled and repurposed to pave the way for additional parking spaces. While this endeavor aims to address the long-standing issue of congestion, the said expansion entails numerous implications for the campus, both short and long-term. What could this truly mean for the university?

Timeline for the Project

Phase 1: December 21, 2023 to January 28, 2024

The eastern half of the car park, near Bellarmine Field and Xavier Hall, will be under construction. During this temporary period, parking slots will be reduced to 50, all located in the western section.

Phase 2: January 8 to March 2, 2024

The eastern half will reopen, providing 166 available parking slots. Meanwhile, the western half near the Ateneo School of Government will be under construction. 

On December 27, 2023, the community organized a protest on campus due to concerns about the administration’s lack of stakeholder consultations; however, by that time, a number of trees had already been cut. Hence, as renovations continue, affected vehicles are allowed to park at the University Residence Halls at any time and at the Grade School parking in the afternoons only. 

Community Sentiment 

Given that ADMU is considered as the highest ranking private university in terms of sustainability in the Philippines and is long known for upholding the values of Laudato Si’, this project has faced significant backlash from various members of the Ateneo community—including alumni, faculty members, and student-led organizations. Statements expressing opposition have been publicized across different organizations, and an open letter, currently signed by 1,135 individuals as of January 2, 2024, has also been drafted to express their disapproval. 

Among the many concerns expressed by the community is that the expansion of parking space may provide more opportunities for cars to enter the university given that there are more spaces made available, thus further increasing vehicle emissions inside the campus. 

With this, various organizations are striving for more inclusive and sustainable alternatives instead of renovating car parks. For instance, the Loyola Schools Sanggunian  released an announcement regarding future campus projects, emphasizing the importance of incorporating student feedback in both planning and implementation stages. These projects encompass long-term plans, such as improvements for other parking areas, the acquisition of more electrical jeeps (e-jeeps), as well as the addition of e-jeep lanes, bike lanes, and bike racks on campus.

Ecological Impacts

From the 82 trees that the administration has planned to cut down, 62 are considered to be invasive plant species—namely, there are 61 Big Leaf Mahogany trees and one tree belonging to the Gmelina genus. One of the trees is yet to be identified.

The remaining set of trees are native, including an endangered Narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus), protected under Executive Order 277, S. 1987, which only permits logging under a special license. Other trees that were cut down include Golden Showers (Cassia fistula), Balete (Ficus benjamina), and Kupang (Parkia sp.).

Invasive plant species are non-native plants that were introduced to an ecosystem that they do not belong in. Because invasive plants often have different and advantageous ecological niches compared to native plants, they can outcompete with them and dominate the local ecosystem, which poses several ecological and biodiversity risks. 

Big Leaf Mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla) can crowd out sprouting native tree seedlings, and will outcompete shorter trees for more access to sunlight. The unidentified tree species belonging to the Gmelina genus produces chemicals that hinder the growth of other plants, a process known as allelopathy. Both invasive tree species are notorious for their aggressive growth and dispersal in the country.

While the removal and control of invasive species is important for maintaining the health of endemic species, it will still damage the current health of the ecosystem, as many birds, bugs, and insects have adapted to the tree. Apart from consultations with the Atenean community, it is essential that DENR and scientist-led discussions are conducted in order to facilitate the healthy control of these invasive species.

Ateneo will replace each cut tree with 50 seedlings, which amounts to a total of 4,100 seedlings that will be replanted. The administration has not yet released any information regarding the replanting process of these seedlings—the location of their replanting, the species of these seedlings, and the process by which they are maintained and cared for until maturity. 

While 4,100 seedlings may seem a lot, tree seedling survival rate in some native tree species can dip to as low as 50%, as projected by the National Greening Program (NGP) spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The NGP guidelines also use mahogany and gmelina species to reforest, which were the same invasive species removed in the renovation of the new car park.

Environmental Trade-offs

Since the decision was disclosed during the Christmas break, with only a few stakeholders knowledgeable of the discussions prior to the announcement, this has become a significant concern for those who were unable to voice their insights regarding the implementation of the project. 

Hence, irrespective of the outcome, tackling not only the problem of car-centrism in the Ateneo, but also all issues that might affect the entire community, should always emphasize on the importance of listening to all voices. This approach, however tedious it might be, can enable fair and better-informed decisions in the future, particularly in the context of the ongoing debate sparked by the renovation of the North Car Park, which concerns the environmental and ecological implications of cutting down 82 trees.