ILOILO – To protect, conserve and preserve the environment in the face of climate change, the provincial government launched yesterday “Tanum Iloilo” (Plant Iloilo).
This reforestation program aims to grow 1.5 million native and fruit-bearing trees this year, according to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) which is leading this project.
The launching, timed with the Arbor Day celebration, was spearheaded Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. at the Western Visayas Regional Museum.
Forty-three 43 local government units (LGUs) participated “virtually”.
However, the tree-planting proper will be conducted during the province’s annual “Pista sa Kakahuyan” in September.
Defensor campaigned for planting native trees like narra, molave, ilang-ilang, banaba, toog, among others, and fruit trees such as duhat, caimito, santol, pomelo, lansones, sampalok, and chico.
“We will plant them in areas where they have a bigger chance of growing,” said Defensor.
During the launch, the governor turned over Iloilo tree (Aglaia argentea) seedlings to partner agencies like the department of Environment and Natural Resources, Education, and of Social Welfare and Development, among others.
On June 10 the provincial government received 100 Iloilo tree seedlings from the province of Capiz through Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras.
Iloilo tree is native in the province while it also grows in the forests of Jamindan, Capiz.
It is unique because it is the only tree named after a place, said Atty. Arturo Cangrejo, PENRO head.
The LGUs planted their Iloilo tree seedlings yesterday but will still participate in the bigger tree-planting activity in September. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
