Mandaue City eyes eco-tourism park

The local government of Mandaue City is now conducting an inventory of the city's coastal areas in preparation to develop mangrove eco-tourism site.

Mayor Jonas  Cortes said he had tasked the City Agriculture, City Legal, City Environment and Natural Resources to check on the 72 hectares of mangrove areas located in barangays Umapad, Labogon, Jagobiao and Paknaan.

"We don't have a tourist destination in Mandaue, so hopefully we can do this," the mayor said.

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and environmental advocates joined the inspection conducted by the city hall team.

"It's good because we, in Mandaue, we are industrial, commercial city and it's surprising that we have this asset within our city boundaries, especially now that climate change is such an issue, protection of what is left is very important," said MCCI president Kelie Ko.

The inspection checked the areas' assets and assess what are the things that could transform the area into an attraction.

After the inventory, they will formulate a blue economy map that is part of the integrated management coastal plan.

City Agriculture Office officer-in-charge Sharon Mangadlao told media that since Mandaue City do not have forests, the city government wanted to focus its efforts on the development and protection of its available natural resources that include its mangroves.

She added that the city is preparing for its massive mangrove planting campaign in 2024. It has converted a portion of the old  dumpsite in Barangay Umapad into a mangrove nursery that is now referred to as the Green Learning Park.