DENR 6 backs greener Iloilo through Padyak Kalikasan

Iloilo City — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Western Visayas combined biking and environmental action through Padyak Kalikasan, held early July 3, 2026.

The eco-biking and mangrove planting activity began at 6 a.m., with participants gathering at the DENR-6 Regional Office.

From the regional office, DENR-6 bikers and employees rode to the coastal community of Barangay Hinactacan in La Paz, Iloilo City.

More than a weekend fitness activity, Padyak Kalikasan served as a localized push for the Luntiang Bukas initiative.

The initiative aims to integrate active, zero-emission mobility with community-driven greening programs in Iloilo City.

By using bicycles to reach the planting site, the activity helped reduce the event’s carbon footprint and promoted sustainable living.

Upon arriving at the site, participants traded their bicycle handlebars for planting trowels.

They planted 119 mangrove seedlings of Avicennia marina, locally known as bungalon, and Sonneratia alba, locally known as pagatpat, along the Hinactacan shoreline.

The two mangrove species are known for their resilience and high survival rates in local muddy substrates.

Mangroves play a critical role in protecting coastal communities from erosion and storm surges while providing habitats for fish and other marine species.

“The success of the Luntiang Bukas initiative relies heavily on collective, visible action,” said Atty. Ramar Niel V. Pascua, DENR-6 officer in charge regional executive director.

“When our employees ride their bikes and plant mangroves, they are showing the community that restoring our environment and reducing our daily emissions are practical steps anyone can take,” he added.

The activity was carried out in close collaboration with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

It underscored the region’s commitment to rehabilitating degraded coastal zones, boosting local marine biodiversity, and encouraging an active lifestyle among government personnel.

By linking climate-conscious transport with blue carbon habitat restoration, DENR-6 said it continues to help pave the way for greener and more resilient coastlines in Iloilo.