CONSERVE and protect the environment for our future generations.
This was the goal of the local government of E.B Magalona led by Mayor Marvin Malacon and the Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc. as they signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for mangrove plantation project in rites held at the E.B Magalona Municipal Hall Thursday afternoon, June 27.
Both parties agreed to collaborate in the efforts to conserve and protect the environment through a mangrove plantation project.
The MOA stated that the local government unit is mandated to lead in the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, with a mission to pursue sustainable development, enabling stakeholders’ participation in the protection, conservation, and management of the environment and natural resources for the present and future generations, and particularly, to ensure attainment of an environmental quality that is conducive for present and future generations.
It also stated that the local government unit can link through public-private partnership for the institutional mechanisms in preserving and rehabilitating the environment and for each other purposes. The partnership generates good of the environment and answer to global warming and climate change.
Gae Martinez, chief marketing officer Allianz PNB Life Insurance, said they want to support the environmental project of the E.B Magalona, particularly the mangrove restoration.
“We are adopting 10-hectares mangrove plantation in Barangay Tomongtong,” she said.
Allianz PNB Life, one of the major life insurers in the Philippines, also turned over P150,000 financial supports to E. B Magalona for the said project.
Martinez said Allianz PNB Life is one of the world’s leading financial services provider. It is operating in 70 countries and they have 92 million customers.
She said it is the first time in the Philippines that Allianz PNB Life Insurance partnered with the local government unit for environmental protection.
“We found out that E.B Magalona is big into supporting such eco-environmental initiative, and it’s very much aligned with our advocacy for environmental protection,” she added.
She noted the E.B Magalona was tasked to develop and submit a work and financial plan for the activity, to provide area for the proposed mangrove planting activity including work force for the activities, and to submit progress and final reports as well as financial liquidation report.
As they were inspired by the elementary students in Barangay Tomongtong, Martinez said they are also eyeing E.B Magalona to be a beneficiary of their financial literacy program as well.
“You are very inspiring. We laud your effort towards environmental protection, we’re glad that you are doing this and we are happy to partner with you so keep it up and be assured that we will continue to parting it,” she said.
Allianz PNB Life Insurance is also planning to support environmental programs of other cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental.
Malacon said they are thankful for the support of the Allianz PNB Life for their environmental program.
“It’s a big help for us to develop and improve the mangrove forests in E.B Magalona’s barangays,” he said.
Jojo Vargas, environment and natural resources officer of E.B Magalona, said in Barangay Tomongtong, they have a total of 20 hectares mangrove forests.
“We have nine coastal barangays with mangrove areas here which started in 1991,” he said.
He added they also conducted education campaign in various barangays to protect the environment.
Mangrove forests are home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species. These fisheries form an essential source of food for thousands of coastal communities around the world. This also helps stabilize the coastline and prevents erosion from waves and storms.
E.B Magalona is currently the biggest producer of blue crab meat in the province, with an export capacity of about five to 10 tons per year. Its season is from May to December.
The town has seven blue crab-rich barangays, including Latasan, tuburan, Gahit, Madalag, Manta-angan, Tomongtong, and Pasil.