Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation (PDO) recently inked an agreement with the ICCP Group Foundation, Inc., the Bukidnon local government, and the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) to build and manage the first urban rainforest in the Philippines, at Cagayan de Oro. Pueblo de Oro kicked off its preservation efforts by planting endemic plant seedlings, or “wildlings”, sourced from the rainforests of Mt. Kitanglad and other nearby mountains in Bukidnon, at its 400-hectare township project. The urban rainforest is a 40-hectare area in the heart of Cagayan de Oro’s growth area, abundant with different plants animals. There are at least 20 species of birds that can be found within the township. They have been seen taking flight over the combination of grasslands and woodlands in the area, including different breeds of kingfishers and grass owls. More recently, PDO employees were joined by the archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, represented by members of the Laudato Si and Faith and Light communities, parishioners from the St. Francis Xavier chaplaincy, all of whom who heeded Pope Francis’ call to “care for our common home”.
