Iloilo City, DENR sign MOA to roll out Project TRANSFORM for urban greening and resilience

A major step toward strengthening urban environmental protection and climate resilience was marked with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Iloilo City Government to operationalize Project TRANSFORM in the city.

The agreement formalizes a partnership aimed at advancing urban greening programs, ecosystem restoration, and community-based environmental initiatives aligned with national policies on forest management, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction.

Signing the agreement on behalf of Iloilo City was Raisa Treñas, who highlighted how collaboration and innovation have helped the city turn environmental challenges into opportunities.

“Sa aton syudad, nakita naton nga collaboration and innovation have helped transform challenges into opportunities, halin sa greener urban spaces kag ecosystem restoration tubtob sa mga programa nga nagahatag gahum sa komunidad,” Mayor Treñas said during the ceremony.

Representing DENR was its Secretary, Raphael P. M. Lotilla, underscoring national support for Iloilo City’s sustainability initiatives.

Project TRANSFORM seeks to strengthen socio-ecological resilience through innovative and transdisciplinary approaches, promoting sustainable urban development while ensuring environmental stewardship for future generations. The program is expected to enhance green spaces, support ecosystem restoration efforts, and empower communities to actively participate in resilience-building programs.

Mayor Treñas emphasized that the partnership also serves as a challenge for stakeholders to continue pushing for innovative solutions in sustaining environmental gains.

“Ini nga pagtililipon naga-challenge sa aton nga maghimo pa gid sang mas madamo, to sustain the gains we have achieved kag magbukas sang bag-o nga pathways para sa resilience kag innovation,” she added.

With Project TRANSFORM now officially set in motion, Iloilo City strengthens its position as one of the country’s leading urban centers pursuing sustainable and climate-resilient development.