Piyesta sa Kakahuyan 25th Anniversary

Among the many tree planting initiatives that Iloilo Government has created, it is the Piyesta sa Kakahuyan that draws the most number of participants year by year. Launched way back in September 2000 through Provincial Ordinance No. 2000-04, and It is both a celebration and advocacy for the conservation of the environment. While inttial participation was highest among government sector, the fervor of environmental conservation very quickly spread among all sectors of Iloilo: private, NGOs, the academe–everyone and anyone with a spart of environmental awareness has participated in at least one Piyesta sa Kakahuyan tree planting activity at least once in their lives.

This year marked the 25th Anniversary of Piyesta sa Kakahuyan, and seemed appropriate that it was celebrated at the Maasin Watershed Forest Reserve. Being an initiative first conceptualized by former governor Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. and Dr. Jessica C. Salas–it was indeed appropriate that Dr. Salas received recognition from the Province of Iloilo thru current Iloilo Provincial Governor, Arthur Defensor, Jr. The occasion was also marked with the unveiling of a symbolic marker signifying 25 years of environmental dedication of the people of Iloilo, and a reminder of the province’s ambitious goal of planting 1.5 million trees annually–as part of the vision to make Iloilo a “Forest Province” by 2044.

The Metro Iloilo Water District is proud to have been one of the participating agencies for the landmark Piyesta sa Kakahuyan celebration, and had a happy reunion with world-renowned environmental champion and former Chairperson of its Board of Directors, which is none other than Dr. Jessica Salas herself.