MASANTOL -- The Landbank of the Philippines (LBP)-Pampanga, in partnership with the local government here, planted over the weekend mangrove seedlings along the Masantol portion of the Pampanga River bank in this town.
A total of 200 mangrove seedlings were planted by personnel of the LBP branches in Pampanga and Municipal Tourism Office with the assistance of the BAKAJUAN, Pampanga Coastal Emergency Response, and students of the Tarik Suliman High School.
According to Municipal Tourism Officer Mercy Manansala, the mangrove seedlings were planted along the 300-meter portion of the Pampanga Delta Dike Project Slope in Barangay Sagrada Familia here.
“The Landbank of the Philippines coordinated and partnered with the local government here in the community outreach program and we are very much willing to help, especially that it will benefit our kabalens in the left bank portion of the Pampanga River,” Manansala said.
Manansala stressed that mangrove plantation is essential for a coastal town like Masantol, as mangroves serves as protection from natural hazards such as storms, tsunamis and coastal erosion.
As a town surrounded by Pampanga River and serves as catch basin of floodwaters from the upstream part of Central Luzon, Masantol is prone to such hazards and presence of mangrove will help avert serious damages, Manansala furthered.
“Mangroves play a vital role in the protection of our coastal communities, particularly those situated in the left bank portion of the Pampanga River that is why we continuously conduct plantation activities,” she added.
Aside from its role in the coastal defense, Manansala also cited the mangroves role in the reproduction of aquatic animals, particularly fishes and crabs.
She explained that mangroves’ roots serve as sanctuary and habitat of fish and other aquatic animals, where they can rest, lay eggs, reproduce and perform other activities.
“It is known that primary source of livelihood of Masantoleños is fishing and mangroves, particularly its roots, help in the culturing and reproduction of aquatic animals, thus helping in the livelihood of locals,” Manansala added.
Manansala, meanwhile, expressed her gratitude to the personnel of LBP-Pampanga for sharing their time and resources, and for choosing the villages of Masantol in their outreach activity this year.
“We are very much grateful for the time and efforts they shared with us. Rest assured that we will monitor the mangroves and hopefully, all of them will be full-grown within a year,” she said.