Iloilo City gov’t eyes first urban beach forest

A 1.6-hectare Iloilo City Beach Urban Forest is now in the works as part of the Iloilo City government’s massive green projects.

According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will spearhead the construction of the project.

The Iloilo City Beach Urban Forest will include a plant nursery, Biodiversity Conservation Information Center, and a hatchery for the nesting place of turtles.

The Conservation Information Center will serve as a display area of information education campaign (IEC) materials, and briefing area for tourists and site of other environmental awareness activities.

Moreover, the area will also be planted with mangroves and other plant species.

Treñas said the Iloilo City Beach Urban Forest is part of the city’s goal to build greens all over the city to compensate the infrastructural developments in the metro.

“As we continuously make infrastructural developments in the metro, we envision compensating through equally building greens all over the city. As we persist to level up, we will also extend our efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change,” he shared in his Facebook page.

Among the other green projects being implemented in the city is the three-hectare Iloilo Tree Park Development Project in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro.

Another tree park will also be constructed at Brgy. Boulevard in Molo district at the mouth of Iloilo-Batiano River.

The green projects will be integrated in the city-wide Iloilo City Tree Park Network which will include eco-parks, mangroves and wetlands developments.

The projects will be implemented in partnership with City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). (ERS)