Besides traffic enforcers, the Metro Manila Development Authority is recruiting young tree doctors to save thousands of balite trees planted on the center islands of Edsa and other major roads.

General manager Robert Nacianceno said the agency also needed a landscape architect to complete the green team.

He said expert care is needed for some 1,500 balite trees planted on the northbound and southbound directions of Edsa, 600 balite on the center island along the east and west service roads of South Luzon Expressway from Bicutan, Taguig City to Alabang, Muntinlupa City, and thousands of other species along Manila?s Osme?a Highway and Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Sta. Mesa from Santolan Road to Nagtahan Road.

?We are looking for tree doctors,? Nacianceno said.

Alex Jumagat, his chief of staff, said two have signed up?Joel Murillo and Archie Reville, both graduates of Bachelor of Science in Forestry in the Visayas province.

He said the MMDA had employed Manuel Sayson, a professional horticulturist from the University of the Philippines-Los Ba?os.

?These three professionals are all in their mid-20s,? he told Standard Today.

Jumagat said Murillo, Reville and Sayson picked 30 people from the landscape division, headed by Nacianceno, to undergo training programs to help in attending to trees in the metropolis.

?We selected only those who have at least graduated high school to join the team that would look after the health and welfare of these ficus, or better known as balite trees, on the roads.?

According to Jumagat, a forester and a horticulturist are paid a daily wage of P507 on a no-pay no-work basis, while the agency?s trained staff get P274 a day.

?They work six days a week since they are employed on a job-order status,? he said.

Jumagat said his boss had to take the helm as head of the landscape division when one of the country?s biggest real-estate developers ?pirated? its former chief Angeli Remillo.

?She is also in her mid-20s. MMDA has become a training ground for engineers, architects, foresters, horticulturists, and other high-paying workers. They leave the agency after learning so many things from us.?

Nacianceno said the team of tree doctors?foresters and arborist?have helped the agency tackle issues being raised by green advocates amid the handling of trees along sidewalks and road right of ways that were necessary for road expansion projects and other improvements.

?Environment lovers could no longer question us if we remove and transfer trees using the proper technique of tree balling. Our tree doctors could help us find solutions,? he told Standard Today. Rio N. Araja