The Iloilo provincial government marked the 25th Piyesta sa Kakahuyan with an enrichment planting of 5,000 native and endangered species of seedlings along the Maasin Watershed at Barangay Daja in the municipality of Maasin on October 18, 2025.
Around 1,600 participants from both the public and private sectors, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and other partner stakeholders participated in the activity which aims to restore and develop the province’s forest cover.
The Maasin watershed is a primary source of water in the city and province of Iloilo. Of its 6,150-hectare area, the provincial government has adopted 625 hectares for its forest conservation area.
The Piyesta sa Kakahuyan is a legacy of former governor Arthur Defensor Sr. which started back in 2000 under the Action for Regreening and Transformation for Climate Change Adaptation (ARTCCA) program.
It was sustained by his son and incumbent Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. under his Tanum Iloilo for MoRProGRes program which has a long-term goal of making Iloilo a “Forest Province” by 2044.
Under Tanum Iloilo, the provincial government targets to plant P1.5 million trees yearly.
From 2020 to 2023, a total of 6,661,075 seedings were planted with a 45 percent survival rate, based on the data of the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO).
In 2024, PGENRO has recorded an initial of 1,652,188 seedlings planted, which is beyond the province’s annual target. Monitoring is still ongoing.
The 25th Piyesta sa Kakahuyan celebration was led by Governor Defensor, Vice Governor Lee Ann Debuque, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, PGENRO Chief Attyy. Cesar Emannuelle Buyco. Jr., DENR VI OIC-Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla, and Maasin Mayor Francis Amboy.
(Capitol News)
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