The Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc. (CIPDI) brought 785 volunteers together for its World Wetlands Day observance this year to plant 20,000 mangrove propagules at its West Cebu Industrial Park (WCIP) mangrove area in sitio Langob, barangay Nangka, Balamban, southwest Cebu.
There were 365 students from the different elementary and high schools in the municipality who joined the activity.
Nangka National High School principal Susan Tribunalo said the activity helped increase students’ awareness on the importance of mangroves.
Winmundo Charcos, CIPDI’s assistant manager for operations reported an 82 percent survival rate of the 58,000 propagules so far planted at the WCIP reserve.
Nangka barangay captain Pablo Tagalog expressed thanks that his barangay was chosen as the site for this year’s activity.
He added that his barangay has been declared a marine sanctuary by the local government.
The mangrove areas are important habitats that support the development of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Mangroves also protects fish from strong currents until they are strong enough to swim into the open sea.
The mangrove areas also provide shelter and food for various bird species.
CIPDI’s annual World Wetlands Day celebration is supported by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., Aboitiz Group Foundation Inc. and AboitizLand Inc.