La Union is known for its beaches, but did you know that it is also home to a landscape and seascape beaming with mangroves, seagrass and abundant fishery resources spanning four municipalities?

The Agoo-Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape (ADPLS) running along the shores of the municipalities of Agoo, Sto. Tomas, Rosario and Aringay has a total size of 10,744.68 hectares as legislated by virtue of RA 7586 as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018.

The ADPLS covers a total of 10 barangays in Agoo, 10 barangays in Sto. Tomas, three in Rosario, and another two in Aringay where people can visit and enjoy the beauty and bustle of nature without the hustle because of its proximity to La Union highways.

Thriving marine nature

To visit the ADPLS is to spoil your eyes to an abundance of green resources, various types of birds and marine animals, 33.69 hectares of mangrove forest and 54.28 hectares of seagrass and seaweeds which is too vast to cover on a single trip.

In order to protect and develop the area, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of La Union has implemented the National Greening Program (NGP) and the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) since 2011 to support the biodiversity in the ADPLS and support the various land and water species living along the area.

The ADPLS along Barangays’ Sta. Rita Central and West in Agoo town for example has seen the growth of an abundance of pine trees from the NGP and ENGP’s inaugural implementation in 2011 to figures from the PENRO of La Union in 2017.

The development of mangroves in Barangays’ Casantaan, Ubagan, Cabaruan and Raois in Sto. Tomas town has also grown and multiplied exponentially from 2012 to 2017.

Developmental projects along the ADPLS

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 1 has developed various constructions in the ADPLS to support its maintenance, with the agency creating a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Building to secure the area and ensure that it maintains its beauty and biodiversity.

PENRO La Union CEO, Mr. Carlo D. Doctolero said that the main challenge in protecting and developing a protected area like the ADPLS is collaborating with people within the protected area and ensuring their participation and support to the agency’s endeavor.

“Sa pag-alaga at pag-protekta sa ADPLS, ang pinakamalaking hamon talaga ay yung pakikipagtulungan sa mga taong naninirahan dito upang tulungan tayo kasi kung DENR lang ang gagalaw, hindi po ito mai-implement ng maayos,” Doctolero said.

Doctolero said that the involvement of communities within the area and various stakeholders are needed for the DENR’s various activities to succeed, to include the conduct of coastal cleanup and communication and education campaigns.

To support its protection and preservation, DENR Region 1 also constructed a Watershed Management Unit (WMU) Building within the Agoo area.

Security features also abound within the area as a view deck and two ranger stations have been installed as an added protection measure for those visiting the area and for the personnel in-charge with taking care of the ADPLS, not to mentioned the construction of a comfort room and two overhead water tanks to further develop the ADPLS along the Agoo area.

To support connectivity and support tourism, a coastal access road from the national highway to the Agoo Eco Park, a frequently visited area within the ADPLS zone, was also constructed after an ADPLS-PAMB Resolution No. 2018-11 dated September 12, 2018 resolution for area clearance and no objection for the construction.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 1 also constructed  five units of 50-meter shore protection groins worth P23.5 million along the Barangays of Sta. Rita Sur and Central in the northernmost coastal areas of Agoo town.

To support the production of food and livelihood for residents along the ADPLS, a mariculture zone project was also constructed in Barangays’ Narvacan, Sto. Tomas and Rabon in Rosario town and is now operational, ensuring the life and livelihood for residents in the area.

Convergence efforts for protecting natural resources

The DENR Region 1 is flanked with support from government and private stakeholders in its goal of protecting and developing the ADPLS, as its PAMB is supported by La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” David-Ortega; a district representative; personnel from the municipalities of Agoo, Aringay, Sto. Tomas and Agoo; the Barangay Captains of the 25 coastal barangays; and the academe.

Doctolero adds that the ADPLS is open for all, but underscored the importance of being responsible in order for the protected area to be enjoyed not just by the current generation but by many more generations to come.

“Kapag environmental protection ang pinag-usapan, ang ating mga ginagawa kapag walang nakakakita ang importanteng kailangang ayusin at dapat maging responsible ang lahat ng bumibisita dito upang mapanatili natin ang ganda ng ADPLS,” Doctolero says in closing. (JCR/AMB/MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)