ILOILO – The provincial government through the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) will conduct mangrove planting and coastal cleanup on April 29 in Barangay Culasi, Ajuy town.
Mitzi Peñaflorida, PGENRO senior environmental management specialist, said this is in line with the observance of Earth Day 2023 on April 22, with the theme, “Invest in our Planet”.
Explained Peñaflorida, they scheduled the activities a week after the Earth Day because of the tidal calendar – April 22 is high tide and it is not feasible to plant mangroves.
Around 2,000 bungalon propagules will be planted by the provincial government employees together with the employees of the Ajuy local government, barangay officials and residents of Barangay Culasi.
Why mangroves?
Peñaflorida said they serve as second line defense of coastal areas by reducing coastal erosion and storm surge impacts brought by weather disturbances, such as typhoons and tsunami.
“Mangroves serve as breeding grounds or habitat for many commercial fish and shellfish,” she added.
Meanwhile, Peñaflorida said aside from Barangay Culasi, all 43 towns, including Passi City, will conduct tree planting activities in their respective areas with the assistance of the PGENRO personnel this Saturday.
Among the native and fruit-bearing trees to be planted are narra, molave, ilang-ilang, banaba, toog, duhat, caimito, santol, pomelo, lansones, sampalok, and chico.
Peñaflorida said the tree or mangrove planting activity is an initiative of the provincial government and local government units (LGUs) every year during Earth Day even without the order from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Initiative lang sang province of Iloilo through PGENRO kay we know man annually we are celebrating Earth Day every 22nd of April, part of our support to Mother Earth,” Peñaflorida told Panay News.
It was in 1988 when the provincial government started its annual tree planting activity. It gained further support when it launched the “Piyesta sa Kakahuyan” in September 2000 under the administration of then governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
Moreover, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a provincial ordinance mandating the observance of Arbor Day every last Saturday of June.
“So far, ang LGUs naging supportive na when we talk about greening programs,” Peñaflorida added.
She then encourages the Ilonggos to continue planting trees, particularly fruit-bearing ones, as it could help mitigate the impact of climate change./PN
