MALOLOS, Bulacan—At least 2 million mangrove propagules will be planted simultaneously in January next year, the mayor of the city of Malolos told the BusinessMirror in an interview.
Christian Natividad, the mayor of the city and the chairman of Alyansa ng mga Baybay Bayan sa Lalawigan ng Bulacan at Pampanga (ABBLBP), said they are dreaming of creating a “great wall of mangroves” that can be seen by a Diwata-1.
He said millions of mangrove will be planted to promote environmental protection and conservation, specifically for fisheries. The scope of the planting project includes the coastline of the province of Pampanga traversing the coastline of Bulacan and going to and passing through even as far as Cavite.
Natividad said they will do it on the first month of 2018 because they will call that an environmental revolution, reminiscent of the revolutionary government of the first republic of the Philippines. “We will call that an environmental revolution the same way the revolutionary government of the first republic of the Philippines was called. Mula Pampanga hanggang Maynila so iyong coast line ng Pampanga traversing the coast line of Bulacan and going to and passing through even maybe as far as Cavite, iyon po ang pangarap natin diyan,” Natividad said.
The chairman of the ABBLBP also said to encourage the communities in mangrove planting they talked with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for them to buy the propagules for P1 each that will serve as a livelihood or extra income to his constituents. The mayor said it will be maintained by the locality and by the communities concerned. He said it will be the beneficiaries’ obligation to sustain the mangroves.
“We cannot afford to put our foot in every inch of the way so we have to delegate the obligation and responsibilities over the mangroves that will be planted,” Natividad said.
Meanwhile, Estrellita Mendoza, the agriculturist of Malolos, said international NGOs, such as the Feed Foundation, will work hand in hand with the local government unit (LGU) of the city of Malolos to successfully make the project happen. She said they will also coordinate with the LGUs of the municipality of Paombong and Hagonoy town.