The Provincial Government of Bohol continued its rehabilitation project on the Loon Uplifted Terrace after a typhoon-induced loss of seafront mangrove trees in the area through a third tree-growing activity on July 15, 2023.
This initiative was headed by the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office and was supported by MetroBank Tagbilaran and the Provincial Information and Media Office. The participating organizations planted 200 Pagatpat and Bungalon seedlings, which are species that are indigenous to the area. BPEMO’s Restituto Piollo said it’s important to diversify the seedlings planted to reduce the risk of pests or pathogens damaging the area.
The seedlings were grown by the Basdacu Coastal Development Association (BACODA), with Jetti Petroleum Phils, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, providing financial assistance worth 100 thousand pesos to the people’s association in raising the mangrove seedlings. This is the third tree-growing activity in the area, a Bohol Island UNESCO Global Geopark geosite, with previous activities conducted on June 9 and May 26 this year.
This restorative activity, a part of Sandugo sa Bohol’s Atiman stream, aims to replace the loss of mangrove trees in the area caused by Typhoon Odette in 2021 and the 7.2 Bohol Earthquake in 2013. Mangrove areas provide habitats, a breeding ground for aquatic organisms, preserve water quality, and absorb storm surge impacts during natural hazards, such as typhoons, that hit settlements near coastlines. The tree-growing activity is under Governor Aris Aumentado’s Trees for Unity Campaign, in line with the Strategic Change Agenda on Environmental Sustainability, encouraging Boholanos to partake in regenerative activities that protect the province’s natural resources.