Hundreds of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation and Dungganon Bank Inc. employees along with volunteer organizations gathered at the shoreline of Sitio Batad in Barangay Sampinit, Bago City, to plant thousands of mangrove propagules, Saturday.
The annual initiative joined by members of the community is part of NWTF’s 40th Founding Anniversary drive to plant a million more trees.
It was also held to mark the birthday of one of their founding executive directors, the late Dr. Cecilia Del Castillo.
Syrel Apla-on, NWTF director for accounting, finance and insurance, said that part of the mission is to give hope for the next generation.
“We are also planting hope because this is for the future. So, every time that a mangrove lives or grows that is a testament that somebody planted it, somebody sees it and would say there’s hope for a greener earth, for a better future,” she added.
Joining the mission was Grade 3 teacher Jenny Libres leading students from the Ma. Rosario Elementary School as they took the challenge of planting more mangroves.
“This is important for us at A M. R. Rosario Elementary School to be part of one life, serving the community by advocating healthy and green environment,” Libres said.
Mangroves provide a critical habitat for marine life and protect communities along the coastline against erosion and storm surges.
Princess Bala-an, NWTF’s Project Supervisor for Circular Economy, stressed the need for collaboration with communities to bolster environmental conservation against climate change.
Bala-an said a thousand mangroves stand firm on the same site where they first launched NWTF’s “A Million Trees Campaign” a year ago.
Teaming up with NWTF-DBI were members of CENRO-Bago Bantay Katunggan, students from University of St. La Salle and volunteers from Re-Green the Earth Advocates.*