Juju M. Empuerto
CEBU CITY, June 11
(PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) intends
to establish another 400 hectares of mangrove plantations in Banacon Island
under the One Billion Mangrove and Beach Forest Development project this
year.
DENR-7 regional
director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said, “This is another administration’s
project to be implemented by us to rehabilitate the coastal forests in
Central Visayas region in line with our commitment to provide safer and better
coastal communities against storm surges, coastal flooding, and other
disasters.”
Montejo added, Banacon
Island is one of the very successful sites when it comes to mangrove plantation
establishment. DENR has just completed the 2015 target of
establishing some 100 hectares of mangrove plantations there.
Aside from Banacon
Island some 1,000 hectares of mangrove and beach forests plantations will
also be established in various identified areas in Bohol province; 1,550
hectares in Cebu; 140 hectares in Negros Oriental and 125 hectares in
Siquijor.
Montejo said there is
a need to strengthen mitigation efforts or slowing down the effects of climate
change by planting more mangroves and maintaining beach forest plantations like
growing bread fruit or ‘kulo’ or ‘talisay’ tree species to act as natural
barriers against strong waves.
Earlier, the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released an initial amount of P400
million to cover the necessary expenses for the mangrove planting activities
and beach forests development in disaster risk areas particularly
Yolanda-and-earthquake-affected towns and cities.
Montejo urged the
people to plant more mangroves, as they act as natural barriers in the
coastlines to shield the communities from highly devastating storm surges and
other tsunami-like waves.
The 'One Billion
Mangrove and Beach Forest Development' project is implemented in provinces
affected by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and earthquake in 2013. (mbcn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/with
reports from Dr. Eddie Llamedo/DENR7)