CEBU CITY, Feb. 24 (PNA) — Super typhoon Yolanda survivors have planted more than 180 hectares of mangroves and beach forest plantations in northern Cebu, less than two years after the strongest typhoon made landfall that hit central Philippines.
Dr. Isabelo Montejo, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 director, said the mangroves were planted by Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu through the agency’s “work for food” program.
Montejo said the department hired at least 400 affected individuals to put up nurseries for the mangroves while 14 people’s organizations were identified to restore 180-hectare plantations.
Last year, over a million mangrove propagules were produced to cover the 85-hectare mangrove plantation and 50,000 seedlings to revitalize 100 hectares of beach forest in identified towns in northern Cebu.
The towns covered are Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Sogod, Tabogon, and the towns in Bantayan and Camotes Islands.
Yolanda survivors from Bogo City also participated in the “work for food” program.
Montejo said the DENR 7 initially allocated P10 million as relief assistance for Yolanda-affected communities including restoration and establishment of mangrove and beach forest plantations.
Montejo said that the work-for-food program will not only support families affected by Yolanda but it will also help in providing safer and better coastal communities against storm surges and coastal flooding. (PNA)