On May 26, environmental activists, fisherfolk organizations, and youth gathered in Manila to protest the Department of Natural Resources (DENR)-backed cutting of decades-old trees for the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx) project. Led by the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, protesters formed a human chain around the trees marked for removal, emphasizing the detrimental impact on local ecosystems and communities. The DENR defended the tree cutting as legally sanctioned under strict regulations. Critics contend that SALEx is part of a broader network of projects favoring corporate interests while displacing vulnerable communities. Kalikasan highlighted that the removal of mature trees exacerbates urban issues like flooding and air pollution. They assert that the proposed planting of 50,700 seedlings cannot compensate for the ecological roles of the old trees. Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya also expressed concerns about the negative effects on coastal communities and marine life due to large-scale infrastructure projects. Youth activists called for stronger public resistance against such environmentally harmful initiatives and urged the Manila City Government to prioritize the preservation of green spaces.