Save Iloilo City and Iloilo province to stay afloat: Nature’s blueprint for a resilient future

By Victor Prodigo

Iloilo City and Iloilo province is a land of rich history and thriving economy. But our future is under threat. Climate change is here manifesting as fiercer typhoons, rising seas, severe and paralyzing floods. The unsettling reality is that today, even a “little rain” can cause intense flooding in the lowlands and the city, a clear sign that our traditional defenses are failing. To protect our people and secure lasting economic growth, we must embrace a revolutionary, yet ancient strategy, letting nature lead the way.

To stay afloat, Iloilo must treat its entire landscape as one interconnected system. When the mountain ecosystem is sick, the coastal areas suffer. This is the foundation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), using nature’s own power to protect us. Let’s consider them as a “Ridge-to-Reef” defense.  Local government must develop their own NbS Toolkit to guide them for moving NbS from concept to real-world action.

The mountains of Iloilo (such as those in Maasin, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Calinog and others) are our natural sponge and source of life. They are also a major source of floodwater when degraded. When forests are cut down, rain rushes down the barren slopes, carrying soil and debris, causing severe erosion and overwhelming rivers. This rapid runoff is a primary reason why intense flooding occurs, even with light rain, in Iloilo City and the surrounding plains.  This is a direct consequence of degraded ecosystems and poor man-made infrastructures.

Let us look for solution by restoring forest and agroforestry farming. The provincial “Tanum Iloilo” tree-planting campaign is more than just planting. It is healing the land. Healthy forest roots act like a giant sponge, absorbing heavy rainfall and slowly releasing it. Agroforestry, where farmers grow crops alongside forest and fruit trees, stabilizes the soil, prevents landslides, and provides a resilient income source. This secures water supply for everyone downstream.

Our vulnerable coastal communities face the direct assault of rising seas and storm surges.  The solution lies in restoring mangroves and wetlands. Mangrove forests are superior to concrete seawalls. They are “green barriers“ that can reduce wave energy by over 60%, protecting homes and communities. They also offer “blue carbon,” acting as highly efficient carbon sinks to combat global warming. Iloilo’s commitment to mangrove restoration is a direct investment in coastal protection and a promise to secure the future of its fishing grounds.

A great plan is useless without strong leadership and smart implementation. Durable projects require collaboration and clear policy.  Our city, municipal and provincial government are on the front lines and must be the engine of positive, lasting change.

Local Government Units (LGUs) must upgrade their Climate and Disaster Risk Assessments (CDRA) to pinpoint exactly where and how nature-based solutions can help. The Iloilo City’s Coastal Resources Management Plan (2024-2028) and Fishery Code (2025) exemplifies a roadmap that prioritizes long-term coastal ecological health over quick fixes. Furthermore, LGU initiatives like the Climate Field School for Farmers, which includes groups such as the Iloilo City Urban Vegetable Growers Association (iCRAVE), are crucial. These programs empower local communities with new knowledge, enabling farmers to use weather forecasts to make smarter planting decisions and, ultimately, secure the region’s agricultural investment against climate variability.

The development of Climate Resilience Hubs in vulnerable towns ensures swift, coordinated disaster response.  National government agencies provide the necessary funds, technical expertise, and unifying policy.   Agencies like the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must ensure that national budgets prioritize NbS projects. Programs like Project TRANSFORM bring technical assistance to LGUs for urban greening and climate-proofing infrastructure, ensuring Iloilo City’s growth is sustainable.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through its implementing arm, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), is mandated to oversee and provide technical assistance to ensure that the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs) effectively formulate and implement local disaster plans for municipalities and provinces. This collaborative structure ensures that local plans are consistent with national frameworks and that Local Government Units (LGUs), as frontline responders, are properly capacitated for community disaster resilience.

To further improve their participation in drafting local disaster plans and mitigation measures, LGUs must enhance inter-agency collaboration with offices like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly in introducing Green-Gray Infrastructure (GGI). This Green-Gray Infrastructure strategically combines natural systems (green) with conventional concrete or engineered structures (gray) to create more robust and resilient defenses against hazards. This approach is often more cost-effective and sustainable over the long term because it reduces maintenance costs for purely engineered structures while providing co-benefits like improved water quality, enhanced biodiversity, and public green spaces.

National efforts must also focus on facilitating green economic growth. By working with agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) to fast-track renewable energy projects, Iloilo is positioning itself as a leader in building a resilient, clean economy. This includes exploring solutions, such as deploying solar energy over fishponds, to significantly reduce the cost of electricity for their operations.

Crucial oversight is vital as participatory monitoring approach must be installed in every national and local government projects. For any project to be truly lasting, transparency and accountability are essential. We need Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PME), a critical tool that allows residents to become active project managers.  This means the local citizens, not just government officials, track the project’s progress. Coastal communities and fishermen monitor the survival rates of newly planted mangroves.  Farmers evaluate if the new agroforestry method actually yields better crops.  PME ensures transparency, accountability, builds trust, ensuring projects meet real community needs and are not just government mandates.  This allows for quick, on-the-ground adjustments, making our adaptation projects more effective and truly durable, leading to better results

We need inclusive growth by investing in people and prosperity.  Our goal is not just to survive the next storm but to build a stronger, fairer economy. Climate action is an opportunity for inclusive economic growth, particularly in the promising sectors of agriculture, aquaculture, and coastal areas.

The impacts of climate change are not gender or disability-neutral. Women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are often hit hardest, yet their voices are frequently missed in planning.  Let us advocate equality in governance to ensure that gender and disability inclusion (GEDSI) is a mandate, not an afterthought. This means securing seats for women and PWD leaders in local planning bodies like the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils. They provide crucial, lived experience that makes projects effective in addressing leadership in crisis.

Iloilo, a historic powerhouse in aquaculture, and the newly organized Iloilo Aquaculture Farmers Association (IAFA) are presenting a key opportunity to capitalize on existing infrastructure and favorable conditions to meet strong national demand. The association is actively seeking collaborative investment and support from the Provincial Government of Iloilo, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and private investors to realize its goals and significantly revitalize the local aquaculture industry. This concerted effort represents a high-potential business opportunity aimed at re-establishing Iloilo’s dominance in supplying high-quality milkfish (Bangus) and other valuable fish species to the key markets of Metro Manila and other major parts of the country.

Investments in aquaculture and coastal ecotourism (mangrove trails, clean beaches) must be designed to create jobs for these vulnerable groups. For example, forming women-led cooperatives for value-added products (e.g., processed dried fish, shell and seaweed crafts) and ensuring PWD-accessible facilities in ecotourism sites generates income, empowers individuals, and bolsters the local economy.

We strongly encourage investors to explore opportunities in agriculture, aquaculture, coastal and fishery sectors, carbon markets, and green services.  By supporting projects that protect natural ecosystems and promote inclusive, sustainable growth, investors can contribute to a resilient Iloilo that thrives despite climate change. Iloilo can, in turn, ensure sustainable livelihoods that are inherently climate-resilient.

There is a need to shift from large, unsustainable fishponds to mangrove and leguminous-associated aquaculture, which both protects coastlines and provides high-value seafood. We should also promote the rapid growth of algae and other species as a way to reduce the cost of commercial feeds.  Developing integrated fish-farm-to-table experiences modelled after agroforestry and coastal marine tourism will attract tourists and create a robust local food economy. This initiative will also help promote the gastronomy value of Iloilo.

To secure the long-term future of both Iloilo City and Province, the collective efforts outlined must culminate in tangible physical improvements on the ground. A final, crucial focus for the LGUs must be the rapid and effective modernization of the city’s drainage system and the revitalization of its waterways. Through rigorous flood control projects, regular dredging, and the strategic rehabilitation of tributaries leading to the Iloilo River and others rivers, the city and municipalities can dramatically enhance its capacity to manage intense rainfall, significantly reducing flood risk, ensuring the entire region can truly stay afloat amidst a changing climate.

A truly resilient Iloilo is one where the forests are lush, the coasts are protected, and all people participate equally in charting the course to prosperity.  By prioritizing Nature-based Solutions, strong governance, inclusive participation, and smart investments, Iloilo will not just survive, it will thrive. We must act now. Let us save our ecosystems to truly Save Iloilo City and Province to Stay Afloat.

(Victor Prodigo is an advisor specializing in Nature-Based Solutions and the Ridge-to-Reef Strategy, with diverse and outstanding experience in agriculture, upland and coastal/marine environmental projects financed by international organizations.)