The province of Iloilo in Panay Island, Western Visayas, has launched its Tanum Iloilo tree planting for 1.5 million native and fruit-bearing trees to fight climate change amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Tanum Iloilo: Tree Planting with Social Distancing” was launched on June 25, 2020, led by the provincial government through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and coinciding with the celebration of Environmental Month and Arbor Day.
During the program, 100 Iloilo tree (Aglaia argentea) seedlings, the endemic tree species named after the province, were distributed to partner agencies like the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), and of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the ceremonial simultaneous planting across the province.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. also announced during the program launch participated virtually by 43 other local government units (LGUs) that the tree-planting proper will be done in September during the province’s annual “Pista sa Kakahuyan”.
The “Tanum Iloilo” aims to propagate the species of Philippine native trees such as Banaba, Ilang-Ilang, Molave, Narra, Toog, and more.
For the fruit-bearing trees, the program is targeting to grow Caimito (Star Apple), Chico, Duhat (Java Plum), Lansones, Pomelo, Santol, among others.
At present, the province has one central nursery located at Daja, Maasin, with five other satellite nurseries located in Ajuy, Alimodian, Calinog, Dingle, and Guimbal.
The 1,721 villages in the province need to prepare 1,000 seedlings each for the upcoming activity in September.
Health measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic will also be observed during the “new normal” tree planting activity, the governor said.
A few days ago, the Iloilo City government also launched its Bamboo Planting Program, a city-wide greening project using the high-value crop to boost the city’s air quality.
SEND WELL WISHES in the comments below to the people of Iloilo for its Tanum Iloilo tree planting project to fight climate change.
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