BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – “Western Visayas: Color It Rainbow”, a project of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6, encourages local government units (LGUs) to adopt certain flowers reflective of their identities, aspirations, values or characteristics.
One LGU that has done that already is the city government here through its Bongga Bella flower project.
The City Tourism and Development Office’s Bongga Bella project aims to promote bougainvillea, a flowering plant, as the city’s official flower.
Catalbas said the aims is to make tourists think of Iloilo City when they see bougainvilleas.
Other LGUs must do the same, too, she said.
Also, flowering plants should be planted on highways or roads leading to tourist destinations and gateways of towns or barangays, Catalbas added.
“If other regions have flower festivals once a year, Region 6 can make everyday of the year a flower festival,” Catalbas said.
She suggested that Iloilo province unite with the city in adopting bougainvillea as its official flower, too.
“Marketing-wise, we want to promote the city and province of Iloilo as one Iloilo,” Catalbas said.
City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena said “Bongga Bella” means “grand and beautiful” – a true description of this city.
Bougainvillea will be the principal ornamental plant for the road beautification projects of the city./PN
