ILOILO City — This city’s ambitious effort to transform Sunset Boulevard into a green and climate-resilient public corridor suffered a setback.
Several newly planted native trees were deliberately destroyed, prompting city officials to prepare a police blotter and fast-track the installation of surveillance cameras in the area.
The sabotage, discovered early Monday morning, May 25, targeted newly planted trees along Sunset Boulevard, a major coastal stretch being developed into a shaded and eco-friendly public space for joggers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
City General Services Office (GSO) head Engr. Neil Ravena condemned the incident, saying it undermines years of greening efforts aimed at combating the worsening heat conditions in the city.
“Very frustrating on our part kag sa naga tanom sini. Nangita kita sang species sang native trees nga fast-growing kay gusto ta gid nga ang Sunset Boulevard magka-shade na kay grabe ang heat index sa area because very open siya,” Ravena said in an interview.
“However, makasugata ka sang mga amo sini nga klase sang tawo (vandals). Ginahimo ta ini with good intentions para mag-improve ang aton siyudad, pero sila ya manghalit lang. I don’t know kun ano ang ara sa utok nila ngaa ginaubra nila ini.”
Among those damaged were four Bani trees, a native shade tree species, and one Fire Tree.
“We already instructed our people nga dapat ipa-blotter gid naton ini,” he said.
While replacement seedlings can still be procured, Ravena stressed that the bigger loss is the time already invested in growing the trees.
“Ang Bani tree nasa P350 to P400 ang seedlings. Ang presyo wala ko na ginapinsar. But ang number of years and months nga nagdako na tani siya, indi mo na mabalik. Mabalik ka naman sa start. Dako gid nga perwisyo,” he said.
The damaged trees form part of Iloilo City’s large-scale greening initiative along Sunset Boulevard stretching from Barangay Tabucan, Mandurriao district to the boundary with Oton, Iloilo.
According to Ravena, around 5,000 trees and more than 20,000 ornamental plants have already been planted along the corridor.
He said the project was strongly pushed by former mayor Jerry Treñas, who envisioned the boulevard as one of the city’s major green public spaces.
Ravena admitted that authorities have struggled to identify those behind similar acts of vandalism due to the lack of surveillance infrastructure in the area.
“Kagab-i ara ko sa Sunset Boulevard, wala gid sang amo sadto, pero pagka-aga natabo na. Meaning between 12 midnight to 4 a.m. gid ni natabo.”
He added that the latest case resembled earlier incidents recorded in Barangay Tacas, Jaro district.
“So hopefully may makabulig sa aton,” he said.
Following the incident, Ravena said Mayor Raisa Treñas immediately ordered city offices to expedite the installation of CCTV cameras in the area.
“Yes, nag-request kita dayon kay Mayor kag gin-instruct niya kami nga i-expedite gid ang CCTV,” Ravena said.
He said the absence of electrical distribution lines in parts of the boulevard remains one of the challenges in powering the surveillance system.
“Wala sang distribution line sa area nga mag-supply sang power sa CCTV, so i-discuss pa ini kay mayor para mapa-expedite ang installation,” he said.
Ravena appealed to those behind the vandalism to stop destroying public improvements meant to benefit residents.
“Sa mga nagapanghalit sa aton ginpangtanom, kamo man tani ang magabenepisyo sini,” he said.
“Very frustrating sa city government nga ginatinguhaan gid namon nga ma-improve ang inyo lugar kag pangabuhi sa siyudad, but it seems daw wala sang sense of ownership sa inyo nga part.”
He also urged residents to report suspicious activity as the city continues efforts to protect one of Iloilo’s biggest urban greening projects./PN
