One Meralco Foundation Commits to A Greener by Planting 125,000 Mangroves in Del Carmen, Siargao in Observance of World Wetlands Day
MOA signing with the LGU of Del Carmen, Siargao, Surigao Del Norte, KAMAMANA and One Meralco Foundation Seen in photo are (L-R) Sangguniang Bayan Members Rex Y. Paitan and Judito C. Donoso, Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo M. Coro II, KAMAMANA President Danilo L. Lauras, One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao, DENR Protected Area Superintendent Samuel L. Malayao, and Del Carmen Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Gina M. Barquilla.
Siargao is known for as the surfing capital of the Philippines, but did you know that it is also home to one of the Philippines’ largest contiguous mangrove forests that boast a rich diversity of flora and fauna that can only be found in the province?
One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the social development arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), is part of its environmental conservation efforts as the Foundation plants and nurtures 125,000 native mangroves in the gateway of Siargao: the town of Del Carmen.
A KAMAMANA member plants a mangrove propagule along Del Carmen’s coast.
This significant initiative is under OMF’s environmental program One For Trees (OFT), where it partnered with the local government of Del Carmen, as well as the people’s organization Kaanib ng mga Mangingisda at Magsasaka ng Numancia (KAMAMANA) in upholding the importance of wetlands located in the western part of the teardrop-shaped island. The partnership was in celebration of World Wetlands Day (02 February) this 2024 with the theme, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing.”
The town is home to the Del Carmen Mangrove Forest Reserve, sprawling over 4,800 hectares, making it one of the largest in the country. It serves as a diverse habitat for different mangrove species and various land and marine organisms that provide the residents with food supply and sources of income. The mangrove forest also helps reduce organic pollution and can protect communities against intense winds and waves in the typhoon-prone country. For this, it is an official nominee to the UN Ramsar Convention of Wetlands of International Importance, a step closer to putting one of Mindanao’s famous islands into the global map of wetland conservation.
A KAMAMANA member plants a mangrove propagule along Del Carmen’s coast.
The local government of Del Carmen and the coastal community it serves have been raising awareness on the economic and ecological importance of wetlands while being active in mangrove conservation and protection since 2010. It’s a product of a massive community effort that hopes to break the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation in the area while contributing to the country’s commitment to boost climate resilience.
As part of its ongoing environmental sustainability efforts, Del Carmen has initiated a reforestation project in three sites covering 50 hectares. This project, as supported by OMF’s One For Trees program, will be a source of livelihood and income to KAMAMANA members and their families.
“Del Carmen is grateful for the support of One Meralco Foundation and the MVP Group through the One for Trees Program to increase awareness on the need of post-typhoon rehabilitation, the support to rehabilitate the Del Carmen Mangrove Forest Reserve and explore innovative solutions to maximize community-based livelihood to sustain the people’s behavior towards environmental conservation. It shows the continued commitment of LGU Del Carmen and the MVP group in ensuring a fairer and equitable world we live in,” Mayor Alfredo Coro shared.
Since 2022, One Meralco Foundation’s One For Trees has committed to reforesting mangrove sites as part of its efforts for environmental sustainability and encouraging community participation to protect and preserve forests and mangrove sites that are also the source of livelihood in the communities. OFT has planted and is nurturing 2,330,729 trees, of which 322,079 are mangroves.
