ILOILO – In a show of environmental unity, more than 1,600 volunteers planted 5,000 native and endangered tree seedlings along the Maasin Watershed in Barangay Daja, Maasin on Saturday, October 18 — marking the 25th year of the Piyesta sa Kakahuyan, the province’s longest-running greening movement and cornerstone of its vision to become a “Forest Province” by 2044.
Led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the annual tree-planting drive reaffirmed Iloilo’s long-term commitment to climate resilience and forest restoration. The Maasin watershed, which spans 6,150 hectares and supplies potable water to Iloilo City and neighboring municipalities, is at the heart of the province’s environmental strategy.
“This event reminds us that we are planting not just trees but the future of our province,” Defensor said, highlighting the initiative’s role in sustaining water security, biodiversity, and climate stability.
The tree planting drew a broad coalition of participants from government agencies, private institutions, civil society organizations, and non-government groups — all working together under the Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes program, the flagship greening initiative that evolved from former governor Arthur Defensor Sr.’s 2000 Action for Regreening and Transformation for Climate Change Adaptation (ARTCCA) program.
Under the Tanum Iloilo initiative, the province aims to plant 1.5 million trees annually toward the “Forest Province 2044” goal.
Data from the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) show that from 2020 to 2023, Iloilo planted over 6.66 million seedlings, achieving a 45 percent survival rate.
In 2024 alone, 1.65 million seedlings were successfully planted — surpassing the province’s annual target.
“These numbers reflect the commitment of every Ilonggo who takes part in this journey,” said PGENRO chief Atty. Cesar Emannuelle Buyco Jr., who noted that monitoring continues to ensure the planted seedlings survive and thrive.
The event also brought together Vice Gov. Lee Ann Debuque, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 OIC-regional executive director Raul Lorilla, and Maasin mayor Francis Amboy, among others — a show of solidarity that emphasized collective environmental stewardship.
The provincial government has designated 625 hectares within the Maasin watershed as a forest conservation zone, ensuring continued biodiversity protection and reforestation efforts./PN