ILOILO City – This city’s best green practices were on the spotlight at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) Bridge for Cities forum in Vienna, Austria on Sept. 4-5, 2023.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas showcased the city’s various programs and projects reducing carbon emissions and other climate initiatives during the Mayors Dialogue 2 on “Advancing Innovation and Partnerships for a Net Zero Transport”.
Treñas was the lone local chief executive from the Philippines invited to the forum that also featured European cities.
“The move towards zero CO2 emissions is a major step for us in achieving the goals of the Philippine Climate Resilient Cities Program… Promoting an environment-friendly transport system is one of the commitments of my administration in line with our development roadmap called W.H.E.E.L.S. (Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability) for inclusive development,” said Treñas.
Iloilo was the only Philippine city featured in the Bridge for Cities forum this year.
“Our efforts towards sustainability are being noticed locally, nationally and internationally. All these are happening because of the Ilonggos’ communal efforts. I am proud to be the city mayor of the Ilonggos. We are showing everyone that not only we can do it – we are already doing it,” Treñas stressed.
During the forum, he particularly shared that the city is embarking on a “green lane” to reduce carbon emission. Through a network of bicycle lanes, the city’s plazas, esplanade and tree parks are being connected.
The Iloilo City Bike Network is a safe, scenic and eco-friendly bike path, connecting three major bike lane networks – Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, the University Loop, and the 12-kilometer bikeable section of Iloilo River Esplanade – to the plazas and parks across the city.
This initiative earned Iloilo City prestigious awards and recognitions – the Galing Pook Award 2022 for I-BIKE and two Gold awards from the Mobility Awards and Bike Lane Awards.
Another environment-friendly initiative that Treñas shared to the global community is the ongoing three-hectare Iloilo Tree Park Development Project in Barangay Lanit, Jaro district as part of the interconnected network of greening projects. It can sequester up to 33 tons of CO2 per year.
He also presented the 35.07-hectare mangroves forest of Iloilo City that sequesters 29.4 metrics tons of CO2 every year.
This dedicated stewardship of green spaces earned the praise of panel moderator Rana Ghoneim from the UNIDO Energy Systems and Decarbonization Unit.
Meanwhile, said Treñas, the city’s Local Public Transport Route Plan is not only designed to streamline the routes but also to reduce CO2 emissions.
Currently, there are 10 electric vehicles plying one route (Tagbak-City Proper via Coastal).
Treñas likewise bared plans to establish green routes along the city’s business triangle as soon as there are available units which will connect all the developments of four big investors in the city.
As part of the national government’s public transport modernization program, almost 500 modern jeepneys now in the city have engines that have less CO2 emissions, using Engine Euro 4 and up.
UN Development Programme (UNDP) lends technical support to the low carbon transport project through sthe Calumpang Iloilo Transport Services Cooperative (CITSCO).
“Iloilo is showing in the international arena that a city in the Philippines is on its way to sustainability,” said Treñas.
Moreover, the city will soon be embarking on e-vehicle (EV) bus rapid transit (BRT) by First Balfour, part of the esteemed Lopez Group in the country.
EV-BRT is a low-carbon urban transport system which is seen to reduce traffic congestion and benefit the environment while contributing to the development of the local economy.
Recently, Iloilo City was cited as Most Progressive Low Carbon Transport City during the Capacity Building of National Government Agencies and Local Government Units on Low Carbon Transport Project of UNDP.
It was cited for having the Best Action Plan to Support the Pilot City REAP (Re-entry Action Planning), Best Social Media Marketing Plan, and Highest Posttest Scores.
Iloilo City bested other low carbon transport pilot cities namely Baguio, Pasig and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Furthermore, Iloilo City has been selected as a pilot site of the Climate Resilience Cities Project (CRC) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The metropolis is one of six cities of USAID-CRC connected by KOICA in a joint effort to assist cities in achieving climate resiliency, transforming into Philippine Climate Resilient Cities (PCRC) project./PN
