Beautification of 19-km. highway from Iloilo City to Iloilo Airport underway
By Vincent P. Grecia
The Iloilo Provincial Government, Iloilo City Government, municipalities of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara, and Pavia, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have entered into an Agreement for the “Greening of the Iloilo Airport Gateway” at the Iloilo City Hall on June 10, 2023.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishes a formal partnership to facilitate the coordination and collaboration of efforts toward tree growing and convergence in the Iloilo Airport area.
It provides for the planting of flowering native trees on both sides of the national highway from the Iloilo Airport to Iloilo City traversing the municipalities of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and Pavia spanning approximately 19 kilometers.
The project will be jointly undertaken with the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO), Provincial Planning and Development Office, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (LEDIP) Office, DPWH and CAAP.
Under the MOA, the parties have procured a total of 1,300 seedlings of various species of flowering trees, including Kasopangil, Malabago, Salinggogon, Siar, Labayanan, Bakan, Balitbitan, Bani, and Catmon to be used for tree growing activities.
Signatories to the MOA were Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr., Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Mayor Dennis Superficial of Santa Barbara, Mayor Elizalde Pueyo of Cabatuan (signed by his representative), Mayor Laurence Anthony Gorriceta of Pavia, DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie Bueno, and CAAP Acting Area Manager Eusebio Monserate, Jr.
The Iloilo City Government shall be the lead agency of the beautification/greening program while the Iloilo Provincial Government in collaboration with DPWH is tasked to provide the layout and design of the proposed area development.
On the other hand, the local governments of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and Pavia shall be in charge in maintaining and watering the trees for survivability.
CAAP shall also authorize the conduct of aerial drone shots within the Iloilo Airport area and provide assistance in the maintenance of the program.
