Iloilo plants 5,000 trees for 25th Piyesta sa Kakahuyan

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

More than 5,000 native and endangered tree seedlings were planted at the Maasin Watershed on October 18 as the provincial government celebrated the 25th Piyesta sa Kakahuyan.

Tree species planted at the provincial arboretum site included Quisumbing Guisok, Nareg, Supa, cinnamon, bagtikan, red lauan, yakal-kaliot, hagakhak, and banuyo.

The seedlings were donated by Dr. Jose Ariel A. Tutor, director of research, innovation, and extension at the West Visayas State University – College of Agriculture and Forestry.

About 1,600 participants from government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society groups, and partner stakeholders joined the tree planting event.

The initiative aims to restore and expand Iloilo’s forest cover while promoting public participation in environmental preservation.

The 6,150-hectare Maasin Watershed is the primary water source for Iloilo City and the province, with 625 hectares adopted by the provincial government under its forest conservation program.

Launched in 2000 by then-Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. through the Action for Regreening and Transformation for Climate Change Adaptation program, the annual event continues under Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. through the Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes program.

The initiative aims to transform Iloilo into a “Forest Province” by 2044, targeting the planting of 1.5 million trees each year.

During the program, Dr. Jessica C. Salas, who conceptualized Piyesta sa Kakahuyan in 2000 and has long advocated for sustainable forest management, encouraged participants to remain committed to environmental advocacy.

“I would like to ask you to keep on giving light to the importance of nature and of the forest,” she said.

“Carry the light. I’m thankful that our leaders continue to do this, and we should also continue to learn from our mistakes. Please study, continue to learn, and carry the light to the next generation.”

From 2020 to 2023, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office recorded 6,661,075 seedlings planted across the province, with a survival rate of 45 percent.

In 2024, the province planted 1,652,188 seedlings, exceeding its annual target.

Monitoring of this year’s survival rate is currently ongoing.

Among the officials leading this year’s celebration were Governor Defensor, Vice Governor Nathalie Ann Debuque, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, PGENRO Chief Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr., DENR-6 OIC Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla, and Maasin Mayor Francis Amboy.

The Piyesta sa Kakahuyan continues to reinforce Iloilo’s long-term vision of a greener, more climate-resilient province through collective action and sustainable forest governance.