Cong. Edgar Chatto (2nd from left) conducts a site visit at a 24-hectare mangrove plantation in Basdacu, Loon with Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Elena Suarez (extreme left), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ariel Rica (to the left of Chatto), and Loon Mayor Elvi Peter Relampagos (extreme right with back to camera). The visit was conducted on Aug. 5, 2021 as part of the impact assessment of the Expanded National Greening Program. Contributed photo
Cong. Edgar Chatto, on Thursday, August 5, 2021, met with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial director Ariel Rica and city officer Elena Suarez at Basdacu, Loon, as they conducted a site visit to a 24-hectare mangrove plantation in the said town, according to a report from the solon’s office.
Chatto and DENR officials were welcomed by Loon Mayor Elvi Peter Relampagos and barangay officials led by Brgy. Capt. Verano Soler.
The DENR reports 88% survival rate of planted mangroves in the area.
Under the Enhanced National Greening Program (e-NGP), mangrove rehabilitation, as part of reforestation efforts, is being pursued to protect coastal communities.
Mangrove trees provide valuable environmental services, as they lessen impact of strong tidal waves and storm surges.
The mangroves also offer habitat, food and nourishment for rich varieties of animal and plant species, in addition to providing ecological balance.
In the context of climate change, mangroves absorb carbon dioxide, a significant contributor to the rise in global temperature.
The group also visited the bamboo and cacao plantation in Libertad Sur, Catigbian where they met the members of Libertad Sur Farmers Association (LISUFA) headed by Gonzalo Calimbo.
Local communities directly benefit from the livelihood component of the program of the DENR.
According to the DENR, the Bamboo Plantation Development Project (BPDP) aims to rehabilitate one million hectares of denuded uplands inside critical watershed using bamboo from 2017 to 2022, for poverty alleviation, food security, environmental stability, biodiversity conservation and enhanced climate change mitigation.
The site visits are part of impact assessment of the DENR, for which they sought the support of Chatto in the continuing implementation of the e-NGP.
Chatto, a staunch environmental protection and preservation advocate and as chair of the House Committee on Climate Change, assured the DENR of his strong and consistent support.
The e-NGP implementation in the province has covered almost 3,000 hectares planted with different plant species such as bamboo, rattan, fruit trees, and mangroves.