Beach Urban Forest eyed as

main program of Iloilo’s bid

to become eco-friendly city
Published March 25, 2021, 2:18 PM
by   Dennis Principe

The City of Iloilo has disclosed its plans of implementing a massive green
projects highlighted by a first-ever Beach Urban Forest.

GREEN CITY. Photo shows the site of the proposed Iloilo City beach forest in Molo district. (Iloilo City Government)

City Mayor Jerry Treñas sees a need to balance their infrastructure

projects by implementing a serious green program within their city.
 
“Boulevard Tree Park adds to the series of interconnected Tree Park
Networks in Iloilo City,” said Treñas.
 
The 1.6-hectare Iloilo City Beach Urban Forest is now in the works and
will include a plant nursery, Biodiversity Conservation Information Center
and a hatchery for the nesting place of turtles.
 
A small demo nursery will also be developed to serve as a source of
seedlings for coastal tree planting activities.
 
“As we continuously make infrastructural developments in the metro, we
envision compensating through equally building greens all over the city,”
Treñas said.
 
The city government also plans to construct a Conservation Information
Center to serve as display area of photos, IEC materials, briefing area for
visitors, biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness activities,
among others.
Principe, D., 2021. Beach Urban Forest eyed as main program of Iloilo’s bid to become eco-friendly
city. [online] Manila Bulletin. Available at: <https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/25/beach-urban-forest-
eyed-as-main-program-of-iloilos-bid-to-become-eco-friendly-city/> [Accessed 1 January 2022].

Research Output
Reflection and Critic Paper

Iloilo City: Urban and Green

According to the UNHABITAT Organization, Iloilo City is a highly urbanized city. It is the
government center of the Western Visayas region, providing an significant role in trade and
business, education and research, and tourism. All districts and barangays in Iloilo have been
classified as urban. Since this intermediate city is a fast-growing one, with its anticipated growth
and urban development, and with the government’s goal to make it livable, attractive,
competitive, and sustainable, there are underlying threats to its environment.
Nonetheless, the city has facilitated programs to balance the city’s fast-paced growth and the
environment and its natural fauna and flora. Starting with the Iloilo City Hall, which is the first
green technology building in the Visayas using solar panels and rainwater harvesting facilities, to
the Iloilo City Esplanade that still ongoing and, to neatly paved bike lanes that are mingling with
greeneries and blooms which are a feast to the eyes for its breaks what used to be a monotony of
color composed of white and gray. These green projects are efforts to transform the city as an
urbanized yet nature friendly by integrating patches of green areas across seven districts of the
city.

references:

Unhabitat.org. 2014. Achieving Sustainable Urban Development (ASUD). [online] Available at:

<https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/download-manager-files/Brochure%20-%20ASUD%20-
%20PCE%20Iloilo%20-%20For%20Online%20Publishing.pdf> [Accessed 1 January 2022].