Iloilo is planting the seeds of a green legacy, launching a ₱325-million Maasin eco-trail designed to make the province a contender for the title “Forest Province of the Philippines.”
The initiative, championed by Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor and backed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., combines environmental preservation with eco-tourism meant to protect Iloilo’s vital watershed while driving local development at the same time.
“This is not just a tourism project; it’s a legacy,” Rep. Defensor said at the ground-breaking of the project. “No trees will be cut. Instead, we will plant more trees, protect our watershed, and show the country that development and conservation can go hand in hand.”
To be set up in the Maasin watershed, dubbed the heart of Iloilo’s water supply, the eco-trail will feature elevated walkways, riverbed viewing decks, open pavilions for environmental lectures, and spaces for tree-planting activities.
The organizers envisioned it as a “living classroom” for climate action, reforestation, and sustainable water management.
Gov. Defensor said the project supports the provincial government’s “Tanom Iloilo for More Progress” program, which seeks to restore diminished forest lands, propagate bamboo and fruit trees, and weave forestry into rural livelihoods. “This is how we respond to climate change — by protecting nature while giving people opportunities to thrive,” he said.
Maasin Mayor Francis Amboy viewed the project as a “game-changer” for the local economy, citing the jobs, visitor traffic, and branding benefits it will bring. “Maasin’s watershed is the heart of our province’s water system. By protecting it, we protect our people’s future,” he said.
The launch was marked by the planting of over 2,000 saplings of bamboo, coffee, and fruit trees by volunteers from environmental groups, schools, and civic organizations.
For Defensor, the eco-trail is only the beginning. “This is the first step toward making Iloilo truly worthy of the title ‘Forest Province of the Philippines,’” he said.
