The Iloilo City Government, led by Mayor Jerry Treñas, officially launched the Iloilo Blooms: Bulak sa Pag-Uswag, a multi-sector beautification project with the objective to promote green living and community engagement by collecting and planting endemic flowers across the metropolis.
“This is about making Iloilo a Blooming Garden City among the cities in the Philippines. Because if you can be a pioneer, maybe the rest of the cities all over the Philippines will replicate it just like Singapore, the Garden City of Southeast Asia. Talagang sobrang ganda ng Singapore,” said Shirley Sanders of Gardens by Sanders, Inc., the project’s adviser.
“If you can be a pioneer, maybe the rest of the cities all over the Philippines will replicate it just like Singapore, the Garden City of Southeast Asia.”
Sanders lauded the city mayor and his wife, Rosalie, for leading the project. In fact, Iloilo Blooms is a pet project of the city’s first lady who is also a member of the Iloilo Garden Club, one of the city government’s partners for the project.
“That is why it is good na si Mayor and Ma’am Rosalie, they are into it, sinusuportahan nila. Kaya pag-nag-bloom ang Iloilo ang ganda. While you are considered the Creative City of Gastronomy, why can’t we make it the garden city, too,” Sanders added.
The target is to collect a total of 100,000 plants composed of 20,000 pieces each of bougainvillea, yellow bells, Fukien tea tree, gumamela, and golden ficus. These will be planted across the city specifically in the center islands, service road, and other green spaces and landscape.
Under the project, the city will be accepting donations of potted plants, seedlings, cuttings, and gardening supplies like soil, pots and fertilizers. These can be dropped off at Iloilo City Garden of Love between 8am to 4pm.
Moreover, part of the plan is to plant each of the city’s district plazas with specific species. It will be tailored fit per district so one would know which district of the city he or she is by seeing the plants.
It is also planned to have kalachuchi in Arevalo; Palawan cherry blossom in City Proper; golden trumpet tree in Jaro; yellow bell in La Paz; botong tree in La Puz; molave tree in Mandurriao; and banaba tree in Molo district.
Treñas, on his part, acknowledged the project as a symbol of the city’s commitment to sustainability and community spirit.
“The project is aligned with global sustainability goals, positioning Iloilo as a forward-thinking city committed to ecological and social well-being.”
The project, the mayor added, is aligned with global sustainability goals, positioning Iloilo as a forward-thinking city committed to ecological and social well-being.
“This is a powerful demonstration of what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose. We have shown once again how strong public and private partnership in Iloilo is,” he concluded.
