ILOILO CITY — Iloilo is making strides in environmental protection through the enforcement of single-use plastic regulations and ambitious reforestation programs as it launched its bid to be recognized as a ‘Forest Province’ by 2044.
Aiming to limit plastic waste and elevate its forest cover, the province has seen 39 out of 43 towns implement Provincial Ordinance No. 2019-193, a measure regulating single-use plastics in local markets and communities.
The ordinance aligns with the province’s environmental agenda. The four remaining towns await local approval of the said policy.
“Reducing plastic usage plays a vital role in our environmental agenda,” said Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
Marking Environmental Awareness Month, the province launched initiatives under the theme “One Environment, One Future.”
Highlights include the reintroduction of “Balik Alat 2.0,” a program encouraging the use of woven baskets over plastic bags, and “Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes,” a reforestation strategy to expand Iloilo’s green spaces.
Iloilo envisions a climate-resilient ecosystem with sustainable food production. Governor Arthur Defensor emphasized that receiving the ‘Forest Province’ recognition is a commitment to measurable environmental improvement. “We want concrete results, not just declarations,” he said.
The initiative includes tree planting, watershed restoration, and green space development across the province.
Iloilo’s current forest cover stands at 12 percent, with the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) aiming to increase this through data-driven efforts.
The Tanum Iloilo program, launched in 2020, already planted over 8.3 million seedlings, with a survival rate of 44.42 percent, consistently meeting its annual target of 1.5 million seedlings.
The province also unveiled the Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes Framework 2024-2044, designed to enhance water sources, biodiversity, and air quality while bolstering local tourism.
In line with this vision, a MoRProGRes Forest Map will track reforestation progress, targeting primary and secondary forest areas for rejuvenation.
Alongside these reforestation goals, Project LISO (Locally Intensified Seeds/Seedlings Collection One4TanumIloilo) is underway to encourage communities to grow native trees and fruits, promoting biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
