The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Oriental Negros is implementing the plant-to-graduate program called "Coastal Environment Protection -Focused on Mangroves."

This is in support of the Massive Organizational Response to Destruction of Environment, Nature and Ourselves project implemented earlier by the Department of Education in Region VII, advocating the planting of trees and other similar activities to preserve and protect the environment.

Rowena Magpiong, of the DENR, said, some 638 graduating students from 10 elementary and secondary schools have planted 5,104 mangrove propagules and 1,276 seedlings at the Enrique Villanueva and Larena mangrove areas for this month alone.

A memorandum of agreement for the project was signed earlier in the participating schools, she said.

These schools are Libo and Bitaug elementary, Enrique Villanueva elementary and high schools of Enrique Villanueva town; Saint Vincent Academy, Cabulihan, Larena and Nonoc elementary schools of Larena town; and Banban elementary and high schools of Siquijor town.

Other participating institutions are the Candaping elementary school of Maria town; Siquijor elementary school; Banban, Cang-alwang and Provincial Science high schools of Siquijor town; and Tambisan High School of San Juan town.

Lectures on the importance of mangrove and the correct way to plant mangrove propagules and seedlings were done before the planting. The seedlings came from small nurseries that local fishermen have set up for alternative livelihood.

To offset the cost of these nurseries, participants are asked for a donation of P5 per seedling.

"This will augment the fishermen's income," Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Oscar Magallones said. He added that students joining will have a sense of ownership in the mangrove ecosystem, thus, will be more willing to protect them.

Magallones said the people of Siquijor, through their office, have planted and rehabilitated over 100 hectares of mangrove forests along the Siquijor shorelines in the last few years.*RG

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