Some 5,000 bamboos will be planted in three identified sites in Iloilo City before the end of July to help boost air quality in the metropolis.

In celebration of Environment Month and Arbor Day, an initial 300 Kiling bamboo species were planted along the floodway in Barangay Buhang, Jaro here Thursday, said Armando Dayrit, the city government’s executive assistant for environment.

“This is just sort of (a) ceremonial activity. Along the floodway, we will plant 1,000 bamboo materials,” Dayrit said in a phone interview.

The materials, he said, were sourced from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Mayor Jerry Treñas would like to have luxuriant growth around Iloilo City. That bamboo is one of his ideas because they look green and they will also promote ambient air,” Dayrit said.

Bamboo is said to play a part in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

As early as January this year, he said, they already started to lobby for seedlings at the DENR.

Of the total seedlings committed by the department, 3,000 will be planted at the Calajunan Sanitary Landfill and 1,000 at the Esplanade at the back of the St. Paul’s Hospital towards the old Residence Hotel.

Those that will be planted at the esplanade are the ornamental Chinese bamboo species while those at the floodway are the industrial Kiling species.

Dayrit said the DENR also committed to helping the city plant more bamboos.

Iloilo’s bamboo products, which are brought to other places, only come from the municipality of Maasin.

“Only Maasin is producing it and Iloilo is already becoming a capital. What more if Iloilo City will produce more,” he said.

The plan is to plant with bamboo all open spaces in the city, such as along creeks.

“We expect more. We will consider it in our next plan,” Dayrit said, noting that they intend to clone the bamboos once all 5,000 bamboos are fully-grown.

Thursday’s bamboo planting activity was a partnership between the city government of Iloilo and DENR-6. Perla Lena/PNA