Iloilo, Antique map shared priorities for co-management

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Provincial Planning and Development Offices (PPDO) of Iloilo and Antique have identified shared priority areas for integration and protection during a recent consultation meeting aimed at strengthening interprovincial collaboration.

Among the priority areas highlighted were the biodiversity corridor within the Panay Mountain Ranges and the ancestral domains jointly shared by Calinog, Iloilo, and Valderrama, Antique, with emphasis on preserving the culture of the Iraynon and Panay Bukidnon Indigenous communities.

The two provinces also agreed to focus on watershed and delta management, noting that Mt. Baloy serves as the headwater source of vital watersheds.

The meeting also tackled infrastructure projects that could affect settlement patterns, including the Panay East-West Lateral Road linking Lambunao, Iloilo, and Valderrama, Antique, as well as the Tubungan–San Remigio road network.

PPDO Iloilo noted that these projects are expected to spur linear development, requiring careful settlement planning.

In addition, Iloilo and Antique underscored the need for joint management of shared coastal resources between San Joaquin, Iloilo, and Anini-y, Antique—an area designated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as part of Fisheries Management Area No. 4.

Both provinces committed to integrating these concerns into the ongoing formulation of their respective Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans to ensure sustainable, inclusive, and well-coordinated development.