Iloilo City, under the leadership of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, strengthens its green initiatives through ongoing and upcoming projects in the metro. Here, the Iloilo Bloggers Society has summarized some of the green projects of the local government.
One of the projects that has recently gained popularity is the green tunnel. The ‘Green Tunnel’ will be integrated along the bike lane in Diversion Road; is estimated to be 4.6 to 6 meters long and will be covered by ornamental plants. It is included in the city’s development plan and is expected to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The city has always been transparent in its green initiatives. It may be recalled that green guards have been put in place to monitor and ‘guard’ ornamental pieces planted in various areas in the city.
“More than the scenic view, we aim for a cleaner and greener environment to combat the effects of climate change by reducing carbon footprints. To maintain and secure our greeneries against those who might destroy them, we deployed our Green Guards to different plazas and esplanades. Another sustainable development plan we aim to achieve this year is an architectural bikeway project, the Green Tunnel. Despite the impact of the pandemic on the community, this does not hamper our continuous efforts to clean the environment and beautify the surroundings with tree propagation and cultivation of ornamental plants,” statement of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, lauding the community’s efforts in making Iloilo a green city. Iloilo City was given recognition as a ‘Clean Tourist City’ by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
To encourage community involvement, the city has also imposed an ‘eco-service penalty’ for those who caught without a face mask or protective gear. It may be recalled that under Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-061, health protocols mandate that all individuals must wear a face mask in public areas. Those caught are ordered to render 8 hours of work for three days of ‘eco-service’, such as sweeping sidewalks, pulling out weeds, and/or trimming the plants.
Other green initiatives by the government can be read in this article: Five Amazing Green Projects that will Transform Iloilo City’s Natural Beauty, an article by the Iloilo Bloggers Society.
