Iloilo turns fishpond into mangrove park

By Mariela Angella Oladive

A 10-hectare abandoned fishpond in Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo, has been transformed into a major mangrove conservation site following the inauguration of the Provincial Katunggan Ecological and Economic Park on Tuesday, June 2.

Led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the opening marked a milestone in the province’s long-running efforts to restore coastal ecosystems and protect marine biodiversity.

The project originated from the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office’s Katunggan: Coastal Greenbelt for BioCoCo Protection Project, which was launched in 2016 to rehabilitate the previously unused fishpond in Sitio Panus-on.

The provincial government initially allocated PHP 710,000 for the initiative, which sought to combine environmental restoration with livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Under the project, about 100,000 mangrove seedlings, primarily bungalon, or Avicennia marina, and pagatpat, or Sonneratia alba, were planted in the area.

According to PGENRO, the site now hosts 10 mangrove species.

Migratory birds have also been recorded in the area.

The project has received national and international recognition, earning the Excellence in Environmental Governance Award during the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s EXCELL Awards 2024 and the 2025 Normandy Honor for Peace — with the Earth.

Defensor said ProKEEP forms part of the province’s broader environmental initiatives under the Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes, or Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient, development agenda.

The agenda includes regular tree-planting activities to sustain mangrove growth and strengthen coastal protection efforts.

While emphasizing conservation, the governor said the province also intends to develop the site as an ecotourism destination.

“Tanum Iloilo is part of our vision to make Iloilo a forest province. And this elevated walkway, we see this as a developing tourism destination,” Defensor said.

During the inauguration, the province also unveiled a 37.5-meter elevated concrete walkway funded through a PHP 2.4 million allocation from Palm Concepcion Power Corp. under the Department of Energy’s Energy Regulation 1-94 program.

The province plans to expand the facility with an additional walkway, gazebos, benches, a pavilion, and a watchtower.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, chief mangrove scientific adviser of the Zoological Society of London, described Leganes as the “heart of mangrove stewardship in the region” and commended the provincial government’s commitment to coastal conservation.

She said Iloilo’s experience shows how partnerships among the government, communities, and environmental organizations can contribute to the protection of coastal resources.

The inauguration was attended by local officials, representatives of national government agencies, academic institutions, and partner organizations involved in the province’s conservation programs.