ILIGAN CITY (PIA) -- Iliganons planted 10,000 mangrove propagules along the banks of the Mandulog River in Barangay Santiago on April 21, as part of their efforts to safeguard the marine ecosystem.

Dubbed "Mangrove Restoration, Coastal Cleanup, and MusiKalikasan," the initiative took place as part of the activities for the Earth Day and Civil Society Organizations Month observance this April. 

It was organized by the Iligan City People's Council (ICPC) in collaboration with the city government, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC), and the Santiago Barangay Council to rehabilitate the city's coastal waters and foster environmental awareness among Iliganons.

Students from various educational institutions, together with law enforcement and military personnel, as well as representatives from national government agencies, private organizations, and other sectors, took part in the mangrove planting.

“We mobilized more than a thousand Iliganons from various organizations, formations, schools, and socio-civic groups,among others, because we want to make a statement that in Iligan we are one in taking care of our mother earth,” said ICPC chairperson Abel Moya. 

Moya also highlighted the importance of safeguarding the city by planting mangroves to mitigate the impact of disasters or calamities, particularly in light of past experiences such as Typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi) in December 2011.

Ralph Mondoñedo, a student from Barangay Bunawan, an inland community within the city, demonstrated his commitment to environmental stewardship by rising early to partake in the mangrove planting effort. For him, the act of planting mangroves holds the promise of community enhancement.

Nursing students from IMCC also echoed the importance of environmental stewardship through tree-planting initiatives.

Kylene Danielle Ong underscored that it is crucial to care not only for fellow human beings but also for the environment. She stressed that the vitality of both humanity and the environment are intricately intertwined, highlighting that a flourishing environment is essential for sustaining human life.

Kate Dianne Tingcang emphasized the pressing need to combat rising temperatures. She underscored the significance of tree planting as a practical step towards enhancing air quality and mitigating carbon emissions.

“As the saying goes, kung anong itinamin, yun din ang aanihin (what you sow is what you reap). If we put more pollution, more harm to the environment, more harm is going to come to us, but if we put more kanang mga maayo (good things) sa atong (in our) environment, mas maayo pa jud atong makuha (we will receive even better results)," she said.

The ICPC also organized an Earth Day Summit, where participants engaged in focused group discussions on environmental best practices, insights, and issues in Iligan City. Recommendations and insights were shared to address challenges and improve environmental sustainability in the city. (LELA/PIA-10 Lanao del Norte)