City government tests earth-balling equipment

The city government tested during a dry run this week at the City Hall the newly procured earth-balling equipment intended to save trees affected by road widening and other projects.

The purchase of the P16-million earth-balling equipment by the city government was announced last year by Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, who said that the equipment will be useful in the earth-balling and transfer of Balayong trees. They intend to transfer these trees inside the Balayong Park, a pocket forest park.

During the dry run, the earth-balling machine known as Tree Spade earth balled one Balayong tree and transferred it near the office of Land Registration Authority (LRA).

Representatives from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and City Engineering Office operated the machine and witnessed the dry run.

Romina Magtanong, environmental management specialist of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said that the equipment will save Balayong trees and other trees affected by road widening projects. She said that they intend to transfer Balayong trees that are planted outside the Balayong Park.

“Ini-assign sa atin ang pag-assist sa maintenance ng Balayong Park, para sa pag establish natin ng Balayong Park at pag-earth ball ng mga balayong trees na nasa labas ng park na maapektohan ng road widening. Ito ay para mai-save natin hindi basta lang daanan lang ng bulldozer. Yan ang purpose nyan,” she said.

She further added that last year, some 500 Balayong trees were removed manually from Sta. Lucia and were planted in Balayong Park during the Balayong Festival.

“Ang ginagawa last year during the Balayong Festival ay mano-mano lang talaga. Ngayon na mayroon ng earth-balling machine ay mas maganda kompara sa mano-mano lang. Unang una ito ay mabilis, mas maayos kasi hindi bugbog ang ugat. Pagmano-mano po ay bugbog ang ugat talaga. Kaya nya (i-earth ball) yung kahoy na six to 10 centimeters ang diameter, hindi na kaya yung matured trees,” Magtanong said.

She further explained that they have inventoried Balayong trees planted in the northern barangays from Bacungan to Sta. Cruz and they intend to transfer these to Balayong Park.