DENR designates 30 heritage trees 

Thirty “heritage trees” have withstood the passing of time and witnessed the urban transformation of Metro Manila,” according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR).

They are particularly chosen by the DENR regional office following a recommendation by the host community due to their shared common history with the people and places where they are found.

Nine heritage trees are found in Quezon City, seven in the City of Manila, five in Caloocan City, two each in San Juan City and Marikina City, and one each in the cities of Valenzuela, Pasay, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque, and in the municipality of Pateros.

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In line with the celebration of Arbor Day on Thursday, June 25, the DENR-NCR is showcasing the 30 “heritage trees” of Metro Manila. They are:

1. Kamagong (Diospyrus discolor), Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City

2. Acacia (Samanea saman), St. Theresa’s College, Quezon City

3. Duhat (Syzygium cumini), Kaligayahan Elementary School, Quezon City

4. Balete (Ficus sp.), Malacañan Palace, Manila

5. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Quezon City

6. Baliteng –baging (Ficus benghalensis), Lichauco Heritage House, Santa Ana, Manila

7. Sampaloc (Tamarindus indica), Brgy. Amihan, Proj. 3, Quezon City

8. Indian Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica), San Francisco High School, Quezon City

9. Duhat (Syzygium cumini), Star Woods Manufacturing, Inc., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City

10. Dita Tree (Alstonia scholaris), University of the Philippines, Manila

11. Botong (Barringtonia asiatica), Philippine Women University, Jose Abad Santos Memorial School, Quezon City

12. Acacia (Samanea saman), Philippine School for the Deaf, Pasay City

13. Acacia (Samanea saman), Tomas Earnshaw Elementary School, Sta. Ana, Manila

14. Betis (Madhuca betis), Manila North Cemetery

15. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Manila North Cemetery

16. Ipil (Intsia bijuga), Manila North Cemetery

17. Dita (Alstonia scholaris), Batasan Hills, Quezon City

18. Kamagong (Diospyros discolor), House of Representatives, Quezon City

19-20. Rain trees (Samanea saman), Santuario del Sto. Cristo Parish, San Juan City

21. Rain tree (Samanea saman), Shoe Museum, Marikina City

22. Rain Tree (Samanea saman), Our Lady of Abandoned Parish Cemetery, Marikina City

23. Mango tree (Mangifera indica), Alabang Elementary School, Muntinlupa City

24. Rain tree (Samanea saman), Tata Dune Catholic Church, Brgy. San Dionisio, Parañaque City

25. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City

26. Tangisang bayawak (Ficus variegate), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City

27. Dita (Alstonia scholaris), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City

28. Antipolo (Artocarpus blancoi), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City

29. Mango tree (Mangifera indica), San Roque Parish Church, Pateros

30. Acacia (Samanea saman), Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Caloocan City

Established through a DENR-NCR memorandum issued in 2009, the Heritage Tree is part of the urban greening and tree protection program of the regional office.

Under the program, “trees that are old, rare, native, or endemic, with a minimum girth or circumference of 100 centimeters and measures one-half meter above ground” are chosen by the DENR-NCR from nominations made by the host community.

Trees included in the program receive special attention and protection from a pool of foresters of DENR-NCR to ensure that they live longer and preserve their historical legacy.