ILOILO – The provincial government marked Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, with a mangrove planting and coastal clean-up event in Barangay Alacaygan, Banate town.
This initiative, led by the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), aimed to reinforce the province’s ongoing efforts in ecosystem restoration and environmental protection.
Approximately 600 mangroves (avicennia marina) were planted by 150 volunteers, including PGENRO employees and local officials.
The planting took place near the site of the 2016 Mangrove Reforestation Project.
Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco, Jr., the PGENRO officer, and Sanly Galvez, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Banate, collaborated with other MENRO representatives from neighboring towns to spearhead the activity.
Mangroves provide crucial protection for coastal areas, serving as a first line of defense against storm surges, erosion, and flooding. These ecosystems also act as vital breeding grounds for various marine species, including crustaceans and fish. Additionally, mangroves trap sediments and plastics, helping to reduce pollution in coastal waters.
Mitzi Peñaflorida, a senior environmental management specialist at PGENRO, emphasized that this year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”, aligns with the urgency of transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources to ensure a sustainable future.
“Earth Day should not only be celebrated on April 22 but every day. We must continuously take action to protect our environment,” Peñaflorida said.
Under the leadership of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the provincial government has already planted over one million mangroves, furthering its dedication to environmental sustainability. Alongside the planting, the PGENRO also collected one sack of waste during the coastal clean-up, although the amount of trash was minimal due to Banate’s ongoing waste management initiatives./PN
