MANILA Mayor Honey Lacuna led yesterday’s simultaneous ‘Nilad planting activities’ in Manila in an effort to promote the plant that stood as the city’s iconic source of its name.
Joined by department of tourism chief Charlie Dungo, parks and recreation bureau chief Pio Morabe, barangay captain Evelyn de Guzman, city engineer Armand Andres, department of public services chief Kaye Nicole Amurao and Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau head Zenaida Viaje, Lacuna said the planting activity which was held in the New Manila Zoo is also aimed at conserving ‘Nilad’ and growing more of it.
Lacuna thanked the city’s partners in the activity coming from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources “who always lend their hands in our desire for a green, livable and healthy city” and the candidates of the forthcoming ‘Manhunt International Pageant’ who came from different parts of the globe to take part on the worthy cause.
“Today we will be planting NILAD, this stalky white and yellow plant where our city was named after. It was during the precolonial period when this nilad plant grew abundantly at the southern part of the Pasig River. Believing that it is now near extinction, we should do our best to initiate and promote planting, growing and protecting more nilad in our city,” Lacuna stated in her speech.
The lady mayor stressed the need to value the ‘Nilad’ for its significance to the culture and heritage of the city.
“The “Nilad for Maynila” project is mutually beneficial for us as we help achieve the re-greening of our city’s coast line. Let me take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the officers and personnel of the national environmental agency with special mention to the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau or ERDB who are helping us achieve our mission,” she said.
It was learned that the Nilad that were planted in the city yesterday have come all the way from Barangay Alitas in Infanta, Quezon. A total of 140 Nilad were planted in the zoo vicinity while 70 were planted in Intramuros, where Vice Mayor Yul Servo led the activity.
Dungo said that the contestants of the ‘Manhunt International Pageant’ representing 34 countries also planted their own Nilads where they marked their respective spots with the name of the country they represent.
“We acknowledge the presence of the Manhunt International organizers and candidates for joining us in this activity. We appreciate that you are sharing your advocacy in protecting our environment. We also would like to welcome you here in the Magnificent City of Manila. We hope you enjoy your stay and experience in this capital city of the Philippines,” Lacuna said.
She also extended to them an advanced invitation for them to join and witness the activities for the Manila Day celebration in June, particularly the holding of the equally important commemorative event for the Nilad Plant called, ‘the Nilad Festival’.
Manila or Maynila, was coined from Nilad, a mangrove tree with white flowers (nilad) which used to be in abundance in Pasig River, which was described by the populace as “may nilad” or where the nilad is.
Dungo explained that mangroves help in weathering the impacts of climate change and mitigating its causes and that they have the capacity to take more carbon out of the atmosphere than terrestrial forests do.
