ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government is accelerating its march toward its ambitious goal of becoming a “forest province” by 2044, this time turning public schools into key reforestation hubs through the large-scale planting of endemic and native tree species within school premises.
In a strategic move to institutionalize environmental conservation in basic education, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) met with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division of Iloilo Province on February 24 to align tree-growing initiatives under DepEd Region VI’s Eco Champions Program.
The coordination meeting was led by PGENRO head Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle P. Buyco Jr. and the Environmental Programs & Management Services Division headed by Forester Mitzi S. Peñaflorida, alongside Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ruby Therese P. Almecion.
The initiative forms part of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s long-term environmental agenda to transform Iloilo into a forest province by planting trees across approximately 37,000 to 38,000 hectares of forest land by 2044.
The Eco Champions Program promotes the planting and nurturing of endemic and native tree species within school grounds to ensure higher survival rates and long-term sustainability.
SEED-EXCHANGE SCHEME LAUNCHED
To materialize the school-based tree planting effort, the provincial government through PGENRO will provide tree seedlings to participating schools in exchange for fruit-bearing or endemic/native tree seeds collected by learners and school communities.
The seed exchange scheme supports Project L.I.S.O. (Locally Intensified Seeds/Seedlings collection One4TanumIloilo), a behavioral-change initiative designed to encourage sustainable production of native and endemic trees across the province.
Project L.I.S.O. aims to:
* Support greening initiatives in Iloilo
* Promote sustainable production of fruit-bearing and native flowering tree seeds and seedlings
* Encourage behavioral change and environmental responsibility among Ilonggos under the Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes campaign
Peñaflorida stressed that the exchange mechanism is mandatory to sustain seedling supply.
She further explained that once Ilonggos request seedlings from provincial nurseries, they are required to bring seeds in exchange.
NATIVE, FRUIT TREES AVAILABLE
Among the available native seedlings in provincial nurseries are:
* Bayog
* Kubi (Malugai)
* Kamagong
* Tapiyay
* Mato
* Prickly and smooth narra
* Kalumpit
* Toog
Fruit tree seedlings include:
* Jackfruit
* Guyabano
* Coffee
* Atis
PROVINCIAL NURSERIES
Seedlings are available at the following designated provincial nurseries:
* Maasin Central Nursery
* Guimbal Satellite Nursery
* Alimodian Satellite Nursery
* Calinog Satellite Nursery
* Dingle Satellite Nursery
* Ajuy Satellite Nursery
With public schools now positioned as frontline partners in environmental conservation, Iloilo’s forest vision is being rooted not only in upland areas but in classrooms and campuses — shaping a new generation of environmentally responsible Ilonggos while expanding the province’s green cover one seed at a time./PN
