By Tara Yap

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu wants to replicate key environmental programs in the city and province of Iloilo.
This is after Cimatu made his first provincial visit after being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte following the rejection of Secretary Regina Lopez by the Commission on Appointments. Lopez is a scion of the storied political and business clan with roots in Iloilo.
Cimatu initially said the rehabilitation of the Iloilo-Batiano River, which runs along Iloilo City and Oton town, is a good project.
The river was once dying, but a public-private partnership (PPP) initiated by Senator Franklin Drilon in 2010 was able to bring the river back to life.
Cimatu also lauded the environmental initiatives of the Iloilo Provincial Government of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
Defensor has a reforestation program that not only touches forest areas but also coastal areas with plantation of mangroves.
Cimatu said he wants DENR to take note of this, and urged other local governments in the country to take cue from Iloilo./WDJ