JANIUAY, Iloilo — With a long-term goal of becoming a “Forest Province” by 2044, the Iloilo Provincial Government has mobilized thousands of communities in a province-wide tree-growing campaign, culminating in the ceremonial planting of 1,500 seedlings in Sitio Iday, Barangay Pangilihan, Janiuay on June 28.
The tree-growing activity marked the highlight of Iloilo’s Provincial Arbor Day celebration and was held in conjunction with Philippine Environment Month. It forms part of the “Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGres” program — Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s flagship initiative to restore forest cover and promote environmental sustainability across Iloilo.
“This is not just about planting trees today. It’s about laying the groundwork for a greener, more resilient Iloilo,” Defensor said, joined by Vice Governor-elect Nathalie Ann Debuque and Janiuay’s Mayor Paulino Parian.
Seedlings of langka, cacao, pomelo, and atis were planted across a two-hectare site in the highland barangay. The symbolic activity was mirrored across all 43 municipalities and 1,721 barangays in the province, supported by government agencies, local governments, youth groups, and civil society organizations.
“This year’s Arbor Day is proof that environmental stewardship is a shared commitment,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 OIC-regional executive director Raul Lorilla, who also joined the activity alongside Barotac Nuevo Community ENR Officer Glenn Del Norte.
Also present were representatives from regional offices of various national government agencies.
The provincial government said the tree-growing movement is part of a larger climate-resilience strategy, aiming to reduce environmental risks, enhance biodiversity, and engage communities in sustainable development practices./PN
