Motorcyclist Injured by Falling Tree Branch in Pampanga, Reigniting Debate on Mature Tree Management

A motorcycle rider was injured after a large tree branch fell on him while he was traveling along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Telabastagan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, on Friday morning, Sept. 4. In a text message to the INQUIRER, the city’s Public Order and Safety Coordinating Office (CPOSCO) said the rider suffered a broken arm and was rushed to Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital for treatment. The victim’s damaged motorcycle was brought to Police Station 4 for documentation, CPOSCO said. Traffic slowed in the area until shortly before noon, when the fallen branch was cleared. Electricity was also temporarily shut off in parts of Barangay Telabastagan while clearing operations were underway. READ: Tree cutting in Manila ‘paused,’ to be studied The incident renewed calls from some netizens for the trimming or removal of decades-old trees along the MacArthur Highway, citing the risks they pose to motorists during bad weather and strong winds. “I was also involved in an accident caused by the branches of those trees; unfortunately, I now have a metal implant in my collarbone,” a netizen commented on a Facebook post about the incident. “What I simply don’t understand is why you haven’t removed them yet—they are a huge nuisance!” Environmental groups, however, have opposed the removal of Acacia and other mature trees along the highway, particularly in connection with road-widening projects. The trees were planted more than 50 years ago, when the national road was still a two-lane highway with shoulders on both sides. In July 2010, an official of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for the removal of trees along the highway, citing motorists’ and commuters’ safety. The call followed an incident in which an old Camachile tree fell on a public utility jeepney, injuring several passengers. Those opposing the removal of the trees have argued that the mature trees provide shade, absorb carbon, and help manage heavy rainfall. They have also called for better infrastructure without sacrificing the environment. /cb