Floodway project may affect mangrove plantations in Iloilo River
City Agriculturist Gil Parreñas fears that mangroves growing at the bank of the Iloilo River may be affected by the ongoing Iloilo Flood Control Project.
Parreñas said there are about 3,000 mangroves growing in Iloilo River and 25 of the 35 species of said plant grow in the area.
In fact, Parreñas said, a rare specie of mangrove known as the Obata grows along the Dungon Creek area.
He said Obata serves as feeding and breeding areas for crabs, shrimps and fishes. However, their existence is threatened by the continuous siltation of the Iloilo River and the ongoing implementation of the floodway project.
Parreñas said he will find ways to save the mangroves by relocating them in Barangay Bito-on, Jaro.
He also urged the people to give importance to the mangroves growing along the river banks.
He said, it takes number of years to grow them.
Parreñas lamented that most people cut the mangroves to be used as firewood without thinking how important it is.
Parreñas said their is a need to reforest and plant new mangroves along the river banks to prevent soil erosion.
To note, Panay Power Corporation (PPC) earlier pledged to donate P1 million to city government for mangrove reforestation project.
The reforestation project will cover more or less three-hectare mangrove site in Barangay Ingore towards Barangay Hinactacan in La Paz district. PPC plants are located near these barangays. The project aims to plant 10,000 mangrove seedlings.
In the PPC's proposed reforestation project, they will only plant three common species where propagules are easier to access. These are the the piapi and bakhawon mangroves. These species are easier to grow, said Parreñas.