Baguio halts hotel project due to dying pine trees

Baguio City officials have ordered a halt to construction on a new hotel project after discovering nearly 100 pine trees dying on the site. Local barangay officials first reported the issue to City Councilor Jose Molintas on February 24, prompting a city council inquiry. The trees, located on property owned by SMI Development Corp., began to deteriorate rapidly. Pucsusan village chief Karl Gabaen expressed concerns that the hotel's construction disrupted natural water springs in the area. The lot is part of the Lower Agno Watershed and Forest Reserve, which has protections in place. On March 14, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a cease and desist order. They require SMI's general manager, Elmar Lina, to explain the tree deaths, which may violate environmental regulations. During previous inspections, the DENR confirmed 51 mature trees were dead and 46 others were in poor condition. The DENR found that the soil around some trees had been piled too high, choking their roots. Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda raised concerns about possible damage to the trees, noting visible scraping of bark. Despite these issues, Lina stated the hotel project, now 60 percent complete, was being done in good faith. He asked for another opportunity to address the problem.