CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) – The local government of Mansalay, through the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), conducted recently a tree planting activity at Sitio Aplaya, Brgy. Budburan in the said town.

With the theme “Planting for Better Tomorrow,” more than 600 varieties of mangroves consisting of species of ‘pagatpat’ (Sonneratia alba) and ‘piapi’ (Avicennia marina) were planted in the site. These species of mangroves, according to MAO, are fitted to be planted in the area for they can reduce shoreline erosion as well as protect coastal communities against coastal flooding, waves and high winds, and tsunamis too.

According to Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag, the conduct of activity aimed to carefully conserve and protect the shoreline ecosystem of the town.

Participants of tree planting activity were men and women from Mansalay Municipal Police Station, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-4th Infantry Brigade Battalion, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC), 4-H Club, The Fraternal Order of Eagles-Philippine Eagles (Mangyan Tamaraw Maharlika Eagles Club), Southern Train Advocacy Riders (STAR) and Order of Mansalay Triskelion.  (LTC/PIA-OrMin)