GETAFE, Bohol, Feb. 18 (PNA) -- The largest man-made mangrove in Asia in terms of area planted with different species in island barangay Banacon of this town got a boost for more jobs or livelihood opportunity promised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR.
Environment Undersecretary Sylvia Ordonez, head climate change office, told mangrove growers here Fridayyesterday with a promise of finding and providing more livelihood programs as sort of alternative source of survival, aside from fishing.
DENR tried to explain to the fisherfolk-mangrove growers on the Supreme Court’s decision strictly prohibiting the cutting of any species of mangrove in the area.
The area covers more than 20 kilometers long and two or more kms. wide sprawling in at least three island barangays ---- Jagoliao, Nasingin and Banacon here and island barangays Calituban and Gindacpan, all of Talibon town ---- with flat coastal areas and white sand bars connecting one another where one can look clearly the tall buildings in Mactan and Cebu city from a short distance.
The large area of man-made mangrove plantation lies within the Danajon Double Barrier Reefs situated between Cebu, Leyte and Bohol. The reefs, still threatened by illicit and deleterious fishing methods, like dynamite, is the only double barrier reefs in the country and one of at least five similar known marine formations in the world.Support
While still looking for another livelihood program for the islanders, Ordonez said DENR promised to pour more funds for planting of propagules by the islanders themselves under the National Greening Program (NGP).
Ordonez acknowledged that the decision hurt them and no amount of money can repay them for what they started in making this area great, considering it’s now considered as the largest man-made forest in Asia.
She said that the Philippines should recover some 300,000 hectares of mangroves lost to cutting after the Spaniards left some 500,000 of these mangroves. Mangroves, she said, protect the people from calamities such as storm surge like what happened to Leyte.
For his part, a Spanish national Javier Manzanares along with an Italian Demetrio Innocenti, both of the Green Climate Fund, assured of funding support for the mangrove growers here. Funds are already approved for the project with respect to NGP. He thanked the fisherfolk for what they’re done and encouraged them to keep it up.
While expressing similar support, Innocenti added that one of what called the “investment criteria” for availing of the fund is the needs of the beneficiaries.
Getafe town Mayor Casey Shaun Camacho told DENR and fisherfolk that his administration continues to provide support. One such support is the provision of desalination machine for the fisherfolk’s need for potable water. It’s now working, he said.
For his part, Buenavista Mayor Lowell “Sample” Tirol expressed the same support and rallied the people to take good care of the mangroves. His town has planted and grown a total of 195 man-made mangrove forest in two island barangays.Expansion
Forester Elpidio Palaca, of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Talibon town, said that the area of planted mangrove has been expanded from mere 484 hectares in 1957 to 1989, it is now stretched to a total of 3,760 hectares.
It retains as the largest man-made mangrove plantation in Asia, DENR said.
Thanks to National Greening Program that the plantation now covered a total of 1,462 hectares planted with propagules while others are fully grown since 1990 until the present, DENR said.
Island barangays Jagoliao and Nasingin, all of this town, have a total of 650 and 260 hectares, respectively, planted with mangroves from 2013 to 2016. This makes up a total of 3,760 hectares of mangroves in Banacon stretch alone.
Aside from Banacon island, Getafe town has grown some 750 hectares of mangroves. Also other towns like Talibon ,469; Inabanga, 53; Bien-Unido, 269; Ubay, 150; President Carlos P. Garcia, 331; Anda, 85 for a total of 2,455 hectares.
Except Anda town located at southern part of the province, all the towns aforementioned are within the Danajon Double Barrier reefs stretch on the north side of the province.
Sec. Lopez was supposed to make ocular inspection in the said area but begged off since she focused her attention now for her confirmation as DENR secretary after she was appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. She instead sent her undersecretary and other officials to visit the area via two choppers that landed in the middle of the mangrove planted stretch over low-lying coastal flats on Feb. 17, 2017, Ordonez said.
Joining the DENR officials were June Rodriguez, Sarah Jane Ahmed Henry Adornado, regional director Emma Malari, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Nestor Canda, Tagbilaran City CENRO Eusalem Quiwag and DENR workers.
They were met and welcomed barangay officials, fisherfolk leaders and mangrove growers associations.