The Iloilo Provincial Government is getting ready for the holding of back-to-back environment-oriented projects next month.

This coming October 1 (Saturday), the province will hold the second phase of the Action for Regreening and Transformation (ART) which targets to plant one million trees. The first phase of the project held last June 25 successfully planted over 700,000 trees.

The October 1 tree-planting will be this year’s Pyesta sa Kakahuyan. Though the tree-planting will be province-wide, a ceremonial activity will be held at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) reservation in Sitio Agdalusan, Brgy Hayubo, Lambunao, Iloilo.

Governor Arthur Defensor said 10,000 trees will planted in the area and there will also be a medical mission to be conducted by the provincial doctors with the help of the Philippine Army.

Meanwhile, the next day October 2, the province will launch ART 2 or the Artificial Reefs for Transformation. This project attempts to complete the ridge to reef loop and is envisioned to be implemented in the 22 coastal municipalities of Iloilo.

The launching ceremony will be held at Sitio Lacaran, Brgy. Ermita, Dumangas where hundreds of mangrove seedlings will be planted.

The ART 2 project will have as components the coastal resource assessment, coral reef survey, alternative livelihood, policy formulation, enforcement of laws and ordinances and strengthening of coastal alliances.

The governor will convene a meeting with stakeholders and partners starting next week in preparation for the two upcoming activities.

Defensor also encouraged the entire community to participate in the project which, he said, will benefit the future generation. (ECGarcia/ Capitol News)

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