BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bacolod will receive PHP23 million from the Department of Budget and Management for the implementation of an urban greening program starting this year, City Administrator John Orola said.
The project will create a new landscape for Bacolod since the empty spaces will become green, said Orola over the weekend.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia led the launching of the Bacolod City Urban Greening Program last February 20 attended by barangay officials, led by Councilor Noli Villarosa, the president of Liga ang mga Barangay.
Orola said the city government is planning to utilize a three-hectare area in Barangay Alijis and also an eight-hectare land in Barangay Alangilan for its greening initiatives.
An integrated farm area with seedling nurseries for the greening project; and an aquaculture site will also be established in Barangay Alijis.
More nurseries will also be opened in Barangay Alangilan.
In May last year, the city government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) entered into a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the five-year Bacolod City Urban Development Greening Program.
Leonardia then led the ceremonial tree-planting at the Bacolod Government Center grounds that signaled the start of planting of one million trees under the program.
Under the agreement, both parties will formulate a five-year plan in support of the National Greening Program to achieve five objectives.
The plan seeks to establish a Barangay/City Park in all 61 barangays in Bacolod; stabilize all riverbanks through the planting of different species of bamboo, fruit and forest trees; and enhance the beauty of the city through planting/growing of ornamental plants and other fruit-bearing trees along the national highway, provincial and barangay roads.
It also aims to intensify public awareness through information and education campaign on the importance of biodiversity conservation, protection and rehabilitation of denuded areas as strategy in addressing climate change; and enhance and encourage public and private sectors and other stakeholder participation in the conservation, rehabilitation and protection of the environment.(Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
