SND leads Navy’s Mangrove Reforestation Project

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PM(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office



Honorable Norberto B. Gonzales, Secretary of National Defense is expected to participate in the coastal clean-up and mangrove propagules planting of the Philippine Navy (PN) at Sitio Pulo, Barangay Tanza, Navotas City on Monday, June 28, 2010 at 7 a.m. The defense secretary had desired that the PN takes an active role in coastal resource management and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The mangrove reforestation project is one of the efforts of the Philippine Navy in mitigating the effects of typhoons which have increased in intensity brought about by climate change. Mangroves help mitigate the effect of typhoon surge by preventing the rush of rising waves inland. It also helps prevent the siltation of bays, erosion of coastal areas, and serves as a habitat for small marine animals.

The Philippine Navy started on February 06, 2010 the mangrove reforestation effort dubbed as “Bakawanan 2010”. Navy personnel and local volunteers of the coastal areas of Sitio Pulo, Barangay Tanza, Navotas City, Barangay Ligtong, Rosario, Cavite and Barangay San Rafael IV, Noveleta, Cavite participated in cleaning the shores and planting mangrove propagules. The coastal area of Barangay Tanza, Navotas is a flood prone area and was one of those areas that were gravely affected by wrath of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” last September.

Half of the 2,500 mangrove propagules planted in Barangay Tanza, Navotas City last January were able to survive, said Major Rocky C. Rosaria PN(M) of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, Headquarters Philippine Navy. Based on his observation during his recent survey of the coastal area, the mortality rate can be attributed to garbage accumulation at the shore.

The environmental activity will have three phases. Phase one consists of symposium and lectures about the importance of Solid Waste Management and Mangrove reforestation in protecting the environment from June 21 to 27 June, 2010 with the residents of Barangay Tanza. Phase two will be a clean-up of the shore of Sitio Pulo and the planting of 3,000 propagules. Phase three involves creating a group from the residents, local government and 1st Civil Military Operations Group Company that will monitor and sustain the mangroves.

The continuing mangrove reforestation project of the Philippine Navy forms part of the commitment towards coastal resource management and climate change adaptation and mitigation. It also supplements the Disaster Preparedness and Risk Management that the Command is advocating.