ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Provincial Board Member Marcelo Valentine “Val” Serag of the first district is not merely a legislator but also an eco-warrior.
SERAG explains the vision and mission of Igbulawan Nature Farm in San Joaquin town, Iloilo province. (Tara Yap)
Serag’s long-time environmental advocacy is gaining fruition in his hometown of San Joaquin.
It started with the revival of the three-hectare family property in Sitio Igbulawan where Serag found solace as a young boy specially during the times his mother scolded him.
When Serag left Iloilo to study in Manila, his natural sanctuary slowly became denuded due to kaingin or the traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practice.
Serag returned and condicted a mission to reverse the deforestation by replanting. With seedlings from friends and the Department of Agriculture (DA), he was able to plant and grow trees such as narra, toog, and salong.
While Serag initially just planned to revive his own natural sanctuary, he later decided to open it to visitors when restrictions were slowly lifted during the pandemic.
THE Igbulawan Nature Farm in San Joaquin town, Iloilo province. (Tara Yap)
Serag opened Igbulawan Nature Farm to extend his environmental advocacy, especially on tree-planting and trash disposal.
One of the rules is that visitors should bring their own trash that did not come from Igbulawan Nature Farm.
With structures needed to serve the need of visitors, including the restaurant and rooms, Serag tried to maximize nipa and other wooden materials only. He also repurposed junk materials and used them as part of the structure.
For Serag, Igbulawan Nature Farm should serve as a model even on a smaller scale on environmental rules and regulations.
Having served as a legislator, Serag previously authored a resolution requiring planting of trees prior to obtaining barangay clearances in all 85 barangays.
Serag also had legislative measures for declaration of marine sanctuaries of San Joaquin.
While Serag admitted there may be a gap in implementation, he will not stop in pushing measures for the environment in the context of development.
“No matter how much we develop or have a thriving business, we will eventually suffer when we destroy the environment,” Serag said.