Marikina Residents Are Fighting to Save 500 Trees and Plants From a New Bridge Project

(SPOT.ph) A new bridge in Marikina promises to make getting around easier, but residents aren't too happy about what might have to go to make room for it: some of the neighborhood's decades-old trees.

According to an environmental monitoring report submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), approximately 514 trees and plants may be affected by the Marcos Highway–St. Mary Avenue Bridge Project. That doesn't necessarily mean all of them will be cut down, but residents are already fighting to protect the trees in the neighborhood.

On October 11, environmental group Marikina Kontra Agos (MKA) organized a nature walk and tree-tagging activity in Provident Village. Participants wrapped trees in colorful painted cloths, which they called tree-huggers, to protest the planned removal.

"We stand for the trees which cannot speak against the impending bridge construction in Provident Village and other areas in Marikina," MKA co-convenor Elisha Zantua said in a statement. "Preserving these ecological treasures is even more important with the current climate crisis and looming Super El Niño that is expected to unleash weather conditions in our country."

Following the protest, MKA renewed its call for the DPWH and ADB to halt the bridge project.

Also read: Public Backlash Stops SALEX Tree Cutting Along Quirino Avenue—for Now

The proposed two-lane bridge will stretch approximately 1.6 kilometers, including its approach roads, connecting Marcos Highway near SM City Marikina to St. Mary Avenue in Provident Village.

It's part of the DPWH's Metro Manila Bridges Project, which is supported by a $175.1-million ADB loan approved in 2021. The larger project covers three new bridges across the Marikina River that is said to provide alternative routes, lessen traffic congestion, and withstand flooding and other natural disasters.

Construction of the Marcos Highway–St. Mary Avenue Bridge was awarded in April 2025 to a joint venture between China's Hunan Road & Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Philippine contractor Rhodium 688 Builders, Inc., for approximately $26.42 million.

However, the bridge and its connecting roads will affect existing vegetation in the area, including mature trees along St. Mary Avenue.

The opposition actually began months before the October protest. In July, more than 500 Provident Village residents signed a petition against the planned cutting of 21 decades-old trees, including narra, acacia, and golden shower trees, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The concerns also extend beyond the trees themselves. Residents fear it could have the opposite effect by bringing more vehicles into Provident Village and worsening congestion on surrounding roads. They've also questioned the possible effects on flooding, particularly given Marikina's history of severe floods.

Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro has also called for the protection of the city's mature trees, but she has not publicly demanded that the bridge project be canceled.

"While the project serves an important public purpose, all reasonable measures should be undertaken to preserve the City's remaining green spaces and mature trees to the greatest extent possible," Teodoro said, as reported by the Manila Bulletin. For trees that need to be removed, she proposed earth-balling, a process in which a tree is dug up with its roots and surrounding soil so it can be transplanted elsewhere.

Also read: Looking for a Quiet Escape? There’s a Massive Park Hiding in Plain Sight in Quezon City