Manila has again started planting and growing more “Nilad,” the plant which the city was believed to have been named after.
As part of the city government’s efforts to make Manila greener, Mayor Honey Lacuna and Vice Mayor Yul Servo led the "Nilad sa Maynila" tree planting activity simultaneously held at the Manila Zoo and Intramuros in Manila on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
“Today we will be planting Nilad, this stalky white and yellow plant, where our city was named after,” Lacuna said in her speech.
“It was during the precolonial period when this nilad plant grew abundantly at the southern part of the Pasig River,” she said.
The local chief executive said Manila must do its best “to initiate and promote planting, growing and protecting more "Nilad” in the city as it is believed to be near extinction.
Lacuna also expressed her gratitude to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the contestants of Manhunt International Pageant who joined her in the event.
“The 'Nilad for Maynila' project is mutually beneficial for us as we help achieve the re-greening of our city’s coastline,” she said.