SOME 74 employees of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) planted 2,140 mangrove seedlings or propagules of the bakawang lalake variety in Barangay Tanza in Navotas City recently.
"Mangroves play an important role in the marine ecosystem" said Ma. Teresa Relos of the Navotas City Agriculture Office during a break from the planting session. She said that mangroves not only serve as nesting grounds for fish, shrimps and shells but also help reduce coastal erosion and help protect coastal communities from storm surges and strong winds.
The activity was done in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - NCR as part of PhilHealth's month-long celebration of its 16th anniversary.
Earlier, a separate group of 57 employees also trooped to Freedom Island in Las Piñas City to plant Molave and Narra seedlings as their contribution to the global movement against global warming and climate change. (Rey T. Baleña and Juanito G. Pineda)
First stop: courtesy call with Barangay Tanza Chairman Carlito de Guzman. He thanked PhilHealth for pursuing projects that will greatly benefit his constituents in this part of his community.
Part of the mangrove planting contingent as they negotiate the 30 minute-walk to the planting site. To their right are fish pens while at the left are mangrove forests.
Employees getting their share from the 2,140 bakawang lalake seedlings or propagules.
Give me a lift please?! The brackish mud makes for the best mangrove forest which according to Navotas City Agriculture Office should also be protected from poachers who indiscriminately harvest the bakawans to turn them into charcoal.
A planter's creed:
On this site… will soon rise… a mangrove tree… courtesy of me.
I promise Mother Earth… to continue this work… so that my children’s children, and all generations that will follow… will continue to enjoy… a blissful planet.
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