Eco-friendly Iloilo City: Butterfly garden, Koi pond for La Paz Plaza

La Paz plaza is getting an eco-friendly facelift with the construction of butterfly garden and Koi pond. Iloilo City Government has found private partners who will fund parts of the project.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and wife Rosalie together with Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and Councilor Rudolph Ganzon, Global Business Power Corp. (GBP) President Jaime Azurin, and GBP First Vice President for Panay Petronilo Madrid, led the groundbreaking of twin eco-friendly projects last December 9, 2021.

Treñas thanked GBP for more Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives for the benefit of the Ilonggos.

“We are excited that finally our plans and dreams for Lapaz Plaza will come to fruition. These projects will provide eco-friendly attractions to our residents and will include different species of butterflies and plants for their habitats…Through our partnership with the Global Business Power, we will be able to achieve one of our goals of making Iloilo City as one of the most livable cities in the country,” Treñas said.

GBP through its subsidiaries Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) and Panay Power Corporation (PPC), both based in La Paz, sealed a partnership with City Hall for the enhancement of portions of the 2-hectare plaza, the city’s largest park and among the most visited recreational places.

The power firms financed P15-million for the transformation of the existing pond into a “Blue Koi Lagoon” and the establishment of a “Green Butterfly Garden,” a brainchild of the First Lady.

Targeted for implementation starting this December, the improvement of the widely renowned park is intended to promote La Paz Plaza, which is famous for sports, as a cultural and tourism spot, located within GBP’s two adopted barangays, Divinagracia and Lopez Jaena Norte.

GBP also turned over Dungon seedlings to aid in propagating the mangrove species within the area. This donation aims to increase the population of the tropical wetland tree, significantly contributing to the overall restoration of various waterways and rivers traversing the city.

GBP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen (MGen), and member of One Meralco Group, is one in powering the good life of the Filipino through meaningful partnerships with the government that aim to make significant impact and lasting value for the community. (via Iloilo City PIO)