DENR: Hectares of plantations restored P3.6 million for mangrove, beach forest land in typhoon-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 reported that it had established and restored about 24 hectares of mangrove plantations and 14 hectares of beach forest plantations in the Yolanda-hit areas in Central Visayas, particularly in northern Cebu.

Based on the report released by DENR-7’s planning and management division, as of yesterday, about P3.6 million have been released with close to 500,000 seedlings of mangroves and various tree species.

Of the amount, over P1.5 million funds were utilized to produce around 484,301 mangrove propagules and about P2,192,550 for the production of 40,950 saplings used for the beach forest plantations.

According to DENR-7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo, DENR will now focus on the re-establishment and restoration of mangrove plantations and beach forest plantations to highlight their importance to the environment and to the lives of the residents of coastal communities affected by the typhoon.

“During the immediate recovery phase, DENR-7 implemented the Cash for Work and Operation Gabas project to financially provide the affected residents and at the same time clear typhoon debris like fallen trees, coconut palms and damaged mangrove plantations, but now we are geared toward more sustainable programs,” added Montejo.

After Yolanda struck regions 7 and 8 in November last year, DENR-7 conducted an immediate assessment of the 185 hectares of identified plantation sites and had contracted 14 people’s organizations to reestablish about 83 hectares of mangrove plantations and 100 hectares of beach forest plantations in Camotes Island, Bantayan Island, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City and Borbon.

To recall, DENR-7 allocated a total of P8,170,000 for immediate relief assistance of the Yolanda-affected communities, including the restoration and establishment of mangrove and beach forest plantations.

About P4,420,000 has been allotted to produce 1,020,000 mangrove propagules and P3,750,000 for the production of 50,000 saplings for beach forests.

In a related development, DENR-7 also submitted a proposed work and financial plan allocating an amount of P35 million to implement additional recovery and rehabilitation programs to the areas affected by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and Yolanda-torn areas, subject to the approval of DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje.

Moreover, some 208 barangays in Yolanda-hit areas in northern Cebu covering eight towns and one city were assessed in a detailed geo-hazard mapping in a scale of 1:10,000.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 director Loreto Alburo said this is a priority program under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration to ensure that lives and pieces of properties are protected against the possibility of landslides and flooding given the adverse and extreme weather conditions in the country

“Yolanda has taught us a “new normal” when it comes to the intensity and magnitude of typhoons and storm surges that affect the coastal communities with overwhelming impacts,” said Alburo.

In a report released by the MGB-7’s geosciences division as of July 23, the towns which were covered included Madridejos with 14 barangays; Santa Fe, 10; Bantayan, 25; Daanbantayan, 20; Tabogon, 29, Borbon, 19; Tuburan, 54; Tabuelan, 12; and Bogo City with 29.

The assessment was conducted by the MGB-7 with the assistance from MGB region 3 to expedite the said activity.

“The objective of the 1:10,000-scale is to indicate more details of the area covered by the map which may include the specific physical characteristics or environment of each sitio or “purok” in a barangay,” said DENR-7 chief Montejo.

Montejo added the 1:10,000-scale geo-hazard map is expected to be completed in 2014 as it is a marching order by Secretary Paje.

Alburo said the assessment team will re-issue the appropriate warnings and geo-hazard advisories to be received by the Office of the Mayor and a barangay official with information, education and communication campaign.

He added that the assessment results which were given out to the local government units have mitigating measures to reduce possible impacts or effects of the geological hazards. —/ATO (FREEMAN)