ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--To continuously advocate for natural resources conservation, the Rotary Club of Iligan Maria Cristina spearheaded anew a mangrove rehabilitation and caring project on Thursday, July 1.

Around 2,000 propagules were planted by the club members in Bayug Island in close collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Iligan Maria Cristina, Rotary Club of Iligan South, Iligan Bay, Uptown and Iligan East, Philippine Army, ICPO, PCGA, DENR, Iligan City Eagles Club, and GSP-Iligan.

Rotary Club of Iligan Maria Cristina President Dr. Shine Barga said the initiative is in line with their club’s primary aim which is to support the environmental protection in the locality.

“We are here for the activity in support of the new area of focus of the Rotary International’s support for the environment. This project is a continuing project by the Rotary Club of Iligan Maria Cristina, mangrove rehab and caring,” she said.

With the theme "Alalay sa Baybay: Kinabuhi Nato Tunhay," the mangrove rehabilitation and caring is an annual environmental project of the club that started in 2007.

Barga said they opted to conduct their activity in Bayug Island as the place is believed to be most susceptible to soil erosion among all the coastal areas in the city.

Rotary International District 3870 Former Assistant Governor Rose Marie Ann Saavedra recalled that years ago, before the project had its actual kick-off, such an area was barren and had appeared to be just a plain water body. From there, the club became the forefront in the rehabilitation of the island as they started growing there mangroves which were originally bought in the municipality of Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte since no mangrove could be obtained in the City.

Until now, the club still leads the same endeavour to uphold its consistent desire.

Saavedra complimented the project as this is seen to be aligned to the Rotary International’s environmental plans.

She further encouraged her fellow members to strengthen their service to sustain the environmental project.

“Ako nagahangyo sa atong mga kauban sa buhat, kauban sa pagtagad ug pagmahal sa atong kinaiyahan nga kung mahimo, ato pa gyud ni siyang ipalambo. Malambuon man siya karon pero ato pa gyud siya palambuon nga at least, makagather pa ta og more than a hectare para maextend nato ug mudako pa gyud ang area nga atong matamnan kay makatabang mana nato later on,” she said. 

[I am asking my fellowmen in service, fellowmen in action and love for our nature that as much as possible, let us make this progress. This may be progressive right now but let us it make it more progressive so that at least, we can then gather more than a hectare to extend and make more vast the area where we can plant because that can help us soon.]  

Other organizations expressed their joy to have had the opportunity to join the activity and be part in delivering long-term benefits to the environment and the city in general. 

“We are very lucky to be part of this because it is our passion and goal to serve humanity…  Sa amo sa Rotaract, isa gyud ang pagmaintain sa place [We, in Rotaract, one thing really is the maintenance of the place]. We have this coastal clean-up project ug projects na related sa pagtabang sa [and projects related to helping the] earth. It is very relevant to help plant these mangroves to protect our coastal areas,” said Rotaract Club of Iligan Maria Cristina President Lady Grace Bagasol.

Apart from the mangrove planting, the Rotary Club of Iligan Maria Cristina also distributed five kilos of rice and food packs to the assistants of the activity to reward them for facilitating the success of the activity. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/ICIC Lanao del Norte)