DENR spends P9.5M for mangrove, forest rehab

ABOUT P9.5 million in relief assistance and programs were given to towns and cities hit by Supertyphoon Yolanda in Central Visayas in Nov. 8 last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Of that amount, P1.3 million were given to 400 beneficiaries of the agency’s Cash-for-Work Program and another P89,000 was apportioned to 182 beneficiaries of the “Operation Gabas”, DENR Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said.

Under these programs, affected communities were hired to clear typhoon debris, plant or rehabilitate damaged mangrove areas and set up nurseries for planting materials.

Others were also hired to cut fallen trees and coconut palms and convert it into lumber to rebuild damaged houses.

“We are gearing towards helping our beneficiaries by providing a safer place for them through mangrove and beach forest plantations in our coastal areas that may protect them from further devastation,” Montejo said.

Vulnerable

In its report, the DENR-7 contracted nine people’s organizations and six barangays to plant 85 hectares of mangrove forests worth P4.4 million in Camotes Island, Bantayan Island and in mainland Cebu.

Eight people’s organizations and 11 barangays will also set up 98 hectares of beach forest plantations worth P3,750,000.

DENR-7 also released a list of 52 towns in the region identified as most vulnerable to climate change impact based on the assessment of its Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWCZMS).

Cebu province tops the list with 20 towns, followed by Bohol province with 18, Negros Oriental Province with eight and six for Siquijor province.

Montejo said these areas should prioritize mangrove rehabilitation and reforestation projects in order to mitigate and reduce various hazards associated with climate change.

These hazards include increasing air and sea surface temperatures, storm surges, sea-level rise, more intense and frequent typhoons, changes in amount and pattern of rainfall, and ocean acidification.

In Cebu, vulnerable areas are: Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, San Francisco, Catmon, Carmen, Compostela, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Naga, San Francisco, Minglanilla, Carcar, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Oslob, Boljoon and Santander.