UP modifies building design; only 3 trees to be earth-balled

DUE to strong opposition from its students, the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) has decided to modify the design of its additional buildings.

With the new design, only three trees – nangka, coconut, and fabaceae – will have to be earth-balled to give way to the new buildings. Six other trees have been spared.

“We don’t need to cut down trees anymore although certain parts of the buildings to be constructed like the size of the corridors has to be reduced,” UP Cebu Dean Liza Corro said during a consultation with about 70 students at the university’s conference hall  yesterday.

UP CONSULTATION/OCT. 23, 2015: University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu’s Archt. Dioscoro Alesna presents the infrastructure projects in the campus before students during the consultation with the students.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

UP Cebu campus architect Dioscoro Alesna said they had to come up with schemes to satisfy the clamor of students not to cut any tree inside the school campus.

“Since we have to save the trees, we adjusted the plan. It’s actually a compromise. Since we do not need to cut down any tree, we also had to reduce certain areas without violating the standards in construction buildings,” he explained.

The university plans to build four  more  buildings within its 12.8-hectare campus in barangay Lahug, Cebu City. Under the original plan, 9 trees were to be earth-balled or cut to pave the way for the Arts and Sciences Expansion Building, UP High School Extension Building, the Undergraduate Expansion Building for the Mass Communication Program, and the Business Management Cluster Building.

Corro said they had to go back to the drawing board when the students opposed plans to cut down trees inside the campus.

“If you want better buildings then there should be some sacrifices to be made. Sometimes we have to face the reality. But since you do not want to cut down trees, certain adjustments were created,” she told the students.

Corro said the school administration wasn’t trying to veer away from being environment-friendly.

“Do not think that we, in the academe, do not care for the trees and the environment. We’re on the same page here. All we’re doing, every development we do, is for you,” she said.

Corro revealed plans for UP Cebu to recover parts of its property that are being occupied by informal settlers. But she said “it’s not going to be easy and fast to get back that land.”

“For now, we’re waiting for the development of the relocation site for the settlers,” she said.