Trees as bounty

“CASH-UALLY” ENVELOPMENTAL, rather than socio-economically developmental may be the actual driving force in the widening of the MacArthur Highway and the massive tree-kill it entailed.
So declared a close coffee confederate at Starbucks SM Clark, holding Tuesday’s issue of Punto! opened to Zona Libre’s Invitation to murder.
Rather strong opinions there, I said.
With the strongest of convictions, and without any fear of contradiction, from anyone with enough brains to see through the ploy of the determined triumvir of tree-killers. So further qualified my espresso-driven friend, arrogating unto himself the patented phrase of Mayor Boking Morales.
Triumvir of tree-killers?
The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the city government of San Fernando, the Department of Public Works and Highways – they who are advocating for and implementing the defoliation, desertification, the very degradation of MacArthur Highway and its immediate environs.
Oh…okay, socio-economically developmental I understand, but what’s with “cash-ually envelopmental?”
Cash in an envelope, as compound adverb-adjectival modifier.
Heavy semantics, wow!
Simply, trees along MacArthur Highway serve as a bounty. The bottom line in their killing and in the widening project is money, money, money.
Very strong allegations there, clearly needing strong bases.
Yes, your very column served that need.
What? How?
Read here your take from the Colorado Trees Coalition at www.coloradotrees.org:
Urban Forests Can Extend the Life of Paved Surfaces.
The asphalt paving on streets contain stone aggregate in an oil binder. Without tree shade, the oil heats up and volatizes, leaving the aggregate unprotected. Vehicles then loosen the aggregate and much like sandpaper, the loose aggregate grinds down the pavement.
Streets should be overlaid or slurry sealed every 7-10 years over a 30-40 year period, after which reconstruction is required.
A slurry seal costs approximately $0.27/sq.ft. or $50,000/linear mile. Because the oil does not dry out as fast on a shaded street as it does on a street with no shade trees, this street maintenance can be deferred. The slurry seal can be deferred from every 10 years to every 20-25 years for older streets with extensive tree canopy cover. See there?
What?
By killing the trees along MacArthur Highway, the asphalt pavement will be deprived of the protective canopy, the heat of the sun roiling the aggregate which gets easily loosened by the vehicles, thereby pockmarking and ultimately carving the pavement.
Knowing how the roads here are made the same way as Cabalantian’s puto-seco, they all the more get easily destroyed.
So?
The DPWH will have to make more frequent asphalt overlays.
So?
The DPWH will have to get more funding, both general and supplemental, for non-stop road maintenance.
So?
The DPWH will have to bid out contracts for the road rehabilitation and maintenance to contractors.
So?
The favored contractors will have to gift the DPWH, and maybe the local government, with the requisite por-diez-por-diez-por-diez-porciento package.
Ah, por Dios, por santo, say it ain’t so Director Alfredo Tolentino!