865,000 mangroves planted in Balanga City seaside villages

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Billy Santos, consultant on fishery in this city, said that 865,495 mangroves were already planted in this city’s seaside villages primarily in Barangay Tortugas. “The mangroves were planted since the start of the administration of City Mayor Joet Garcia eight years ago covering more than 144 hectares area”, he said.

Santos also said members of the City Fishery Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) and other sectors in the city planted the mangroves. “Members of CFARMC safeguard the planted mangroves”, added Santos, who also acts as adviser of CFARMC.

Garcia built the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park in Tortugas to protect the environment and promote bird-watching. The seaside Tortugas and surrounding areas have been declared by the Department of Tourism as a bird-watching destination. The city mayor has been pushing for massive mangrove reforestation in the area to provide habitats for migratory birds.

Earlier City Administrator Rudy De Mesa said that with the further propagation of the mangroves area in the city, the number of migratory birds in the city will likely increase. Mangroves also serve as buffer against giant waves during typhoons.