ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. shared the provincial government’s various eco-friendly programs and projects to participants of a three-day international environment workshop organized by the United Nations (UN) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The workshop, titled “Advancing Environmental Law Together: Regional Meeting of UN Environment Montevideo Focal Points in Asia Pacific”, ran from July 24 to 26.
Defensor showcased the following:
* Action for Re-greening and Transformation Program: Climate Change Adaptation – This is an annual tree planting activity with broad participation of government agencies and private groups. As of 2016, 10,545,212 tree and mangrove seedlings have been planted. Defensor started the program in 2010.
* Fishery Law Enforcement and Enhancement Program – Its goal is to protect the province’s marine resources and eliminate illegal fishing.
* redevelopment of the Iloilo provincial capitol complex – It aims to establish a “green” capitol complex.
UN also honored Defensor during the workshop. According to Andrew Raine, UN regional coordinator for Environmental Law and Governance, Asia and the Pacific, Iloilo “could serve as inspiration for others, and we would like to recognize this in front of colleagues from around the region.”/PN
