Nature’s Shield: harnessing nature-based solutions for disaster resilience in Iloilo

By Victor Prodigo

Iloilo City and Province are facing increasing threats from climate change and natural hazards. We’ve already seen intensifying typhoons, widespread flooding, landslides, coastal erosion, severe heat, and rising sea levels, all of which jeopardize lives, livelihoods, businesses, and vital infrastructures. As we anticipate more extreme natural disasters, it’s clear that while traditional “grey infrastructure” like concrete dikes has its place, a more sustainable and cost-effective path forward lies in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). These solutions directly enhance disaster resilience by combining natural ecosystems, such as restored mangroves and coral reefs, with engineered structures like breakwaters to effectively break strong sea waves.

Nature-Based Solutions involves protecting, managing, and restoring natural ecosystems to address societal challenges. Nature-Based Solutions must be promoted in the LGU governance particularly in agriculture, environment and disaster risk management offices.  For Iloilo City and the province, integrating NBS into disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) offers a powerful way to boost resilience. These solutions provide multiple benefits. They are often cheaper to implement and maintain, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, sequester carbon, create green spaces, support livelihoods, strengthen community resilience, and are adaptable to changing conditions. Iloilo’s abundant coastlines, river systems, and agricultural lands offer perfect opportunities for these approaches.

There are key Nature-Based Solutions for Iloilo’s natural hazards that local governments have started to leverage impact of climate change.  Mangrove restoration and protection is a vital natural defense against coastal flooding and storm surges. These resilient ecosystems along Iloilo’s coastlines of Carles, Leganes, Dumangas, Concepcion, Banate, San Dionisio, and even parts of Jaro, Molo and Lapaz in Iloilo City, naturally dissipate wave energy and stabilize shorelines. Expanding these green barriers, especially near the Iloilo River estuary, directly protects vulnerable coastal communities.

Restoring wetland and riparian zones helps manage inland flooding and improves water quality. Wetlands and floodplains act like sponges, absorbing excess rainwater from major rivers such as the Iloilo River, Batiano River, Tigum River, and Jalaur River. Replanting native vegetation along riverbanks, especially in Iloilo City’s rivers and creeks, stabilizes soil, prevents erosion, and filters pollutants, leading to less localized flooding and healthier waterways.

Rainwater harvesting and green infrastructures are crucial for mitigating urban flooding in Iloilo City. Solutions like green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens capture and manage storm water directly where it falls. Promoting these features in new developments like Sunset Boulevard and public spaces in several municipalities, alongside existing green areas like the Iloilo Esplanade, significantly reduces runoff, eases pressure on drainage systems, and makes the city and municipalities more resilient to flash floods.

Upland forest restoration and agroforestry are essential for preventing landslides, controlling soil erosion, regulating water flow and improving sustainable land management for food sufficiency. In mountainous areas like Maasin, Lambunao, Calinog, Janiuay, and municipalities of Southern and Northern Iloilo, where harmful farming practices increase risks, large-scale reforestation and sustainable agroforestry stabilize slopes. The strong root systems reduce rapid runoff, preventing downstream flash floods, ensuring consistent water supply, and acting as a carbon sink. These efforts protect upland communities directly and safeguard lowland areas, including Iloilo City, from riverine flooding.

Implementing Nature-Based Solutions demands a collaborative effort involving local government units, communities and multi-stakeholders. National agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) including Department of Agriculture (DA) and Climate Change Commission (CCC) must lead in policy formulation, strategic planning, and project implementation, particularly Project TRANSFORM, to integrate Nature-based Solutions into disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts in Iloilo Province.  International organizations and foreign donors, provide crucial financial aid, technical expertise, and capacity-building support, enabling the scaling up of Nature-based Solutions and fostering knowledge exchange, especially in vulnerable areas.  Their collaboration helps Iloilo mitigate natural disasters through initiatives like mangrove planting, wetland restoration, and urban greening, building community resilience and protecting vital ecosystems from watershed to coastal and marine areas.

By investing in and protecting Iloilo’s natural assets, both the province and Iloilo City can build a stronger, more resilient future, ensuring the well-being of its people and the sustainability of its environment. The time to act is now.  Let’s move forward in making Iloilo resilient by letting nature be its most formidable shield against disasters.

Victor Prodigo is an advisor specializing in Nature-Based Solutions and the Ridge-to-Reef Strategy, with diverse experience in agriculture and environmental projects funded by international organizations.