ILOILO – To further beautify the national highway here, the Iloilo International Airport Gateway greening project, which aims to plant 1,300 native flowering trees, launched on Friday.
The greening project is a collaboration between the Tanum Iloilo program of the province of Iloilo and the Urban Gardening initiative of Iloilo City.
It traverses the 19-kilometer road from the airport to Iloilo City and spans the municipalities of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and Pavia.
The featured native trees are Katmon (Dillenia philippinensis), Salingogon (Cratoxylum formosum), Balitbitan (Cynometra ramiflora), and Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata).
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the synchronized tree planting in the province.
Defensor’s brainchild “Tanum Iloilo” is a tree-growing activity for sustainable forest management. He said sustaining and protecting the environment has always been a collaboration among stakeholders.
He thanked Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, the concerned municipalities, national government agencies, and private sector partners.
“We should work together to sustain the trees we have planted and ensure that they grow along the highway,” said Defensor.
Also present at the activity were Provincial Board members June Mondejar, Domingo Oso, Rolando Distura, Jo Ann Germinanda, and Ramon Sullano; Santa Barbara mayor Dennis Superficial; Cabatuan mayor Elizalde Pueyo; Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Neil Ravena; Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources (PGENRO) head Atty. Caesar Emanuelle Buyco; Iloilo International Airport manager Manuela Luisa Palma; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Iloilo terminal supervisor Arthur Parreño; Department of Public Works and Highways 6 regional director Sanny Boy Oropel; representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and Bureau of Fire Protection; and members of the Iloilo City United Lions Club, bikers and riders club; among others.
“Maka-provide sang aesthetic value nga ma-beautify ang aton nga roadside, at the same time ma-promote ang native trees. Mga flowering ini sia, at least matahum lantawon,” said Peñaflorida. (With a report from Capitol News)/PN
