Filipino fishers urge DENR to reforest mangroves along Manila Bay
A fishers' group on Wednesday, June 16, urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to reforest mangroves in Manila Bay.

According to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), mangroves serve as fish sanctuaries, pollution filters, and coastal communities' flood defense.
"Mangrove reforestation and seagrasses restoration are more relevant to the Manila Bay rehabilitation than the costly yet futile beach nourishment project," PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando Hicap said.
This after DENR announced that it will plant coconut trees along the baywalk area in Roxa Boulevard as part of its efforts to clean and rehabilitate Manila Bay.
Hicap said that while it is natural for coconut trees to grow in coastlines, it has "nothing to do with addressing the environmental degradation of Manila Bay."
"Just because it's natural doesn't mean it is necessary and priority to restore the bay's ecosystem. Planting of coconut palm trees along the shores reflects the government's thrust on Manila Bay rehabilitation which is solely based on external beautification, rather than restoration of its marine and fishery resources," he added.
The DENR's rehabilitation of Manila Bay began in 2020 with a budget of P389 million.