biyahera : WHEN LIVES DEPEND ON MANGROVES (the USWAG tree-planting project)

design courtesy of Nun Benitez

April 5, Easter Sunday, under the heat of the scorching summer sun, more than 500 townsfolk of San Policarpo town in Eastern Samar bravely sweat out a three-kilometer unity walk for one worthy mission that could save lives of the present and future generation.

The recent brutal and extreme weather disturbances that hit the Philippines served as a wake-up call for a renewed collective effort in reviving and rehabilitating mangrove plantations and forests along our coastlines.

Mangroves are life savers both for humanity and marine ecosystem It is a perfect breeding grounds for fish and other marine life. It provide timber, charcoal and even a good source of alcohol.

Mangroves are excellent natural buffer and green wall against storm surges and flooding due to rise in sea level and typhoons. Coastal communities with dense mangrove forests both in Eastern Samar and Leyte provinces sustained minimal damage from the fury of Super Typhoon Yolanda and the other disturbances that came after. Properties were saved, many lives were spared.

Sadly, the once lush Mangrove forests all over the country dwindled over time due to salt plants, sedimentation and coastline development.

USWAG SanPoli, a group of San Polihanon's living all over the world and locally, took all these into consideration and thought of planting Mangroves (as one of its main focus} in the coastline of Binogawan, one of San Policarpo's 17 barangays inhabited with more than two thousand locals.

Enjoining the assistance of the local government units through the efforts of Governor Conrado Nicart Jr., San Policarpo Chief Executive Menlo Nicart III, the DENR and fellow San Polihanons, USWAG embarked on the project shortly after the onslaught of Yolanda.

USWAG believed that the endeavour will help educate the people on environmental conservation and coastline protection with the hope that this is only the beginning of similar undertakings in the future.

Together, the army of volunteers planted 500 propagules along the Binogawan coastline, now considered as Eastern Samar's fast-rising tourist destination.

It was indeed a wonderful Easter morning. it was a day of environmental awareness where everyone rose to the occasion in the name of unity and community development.

Aptly, USWAG's words to live by.

'United we stand. Together we can!'

the USWAG SanPoli logo

community health team. the unity walk frontliners

mga ka-USWAG taking it all in

the LGU contingent. Mayor Menlo Nicart III at the helm

all smiles amidst the heat

waiting for the low tide for the mangrove planting to commence

guests and kaUSWAG families

turnover of propagules

the star of the show

last minute tete-a-tete with USWAG lead convenor Claire Ammellino

pulis, pulis, pati sa tree-planting, mabilis

bravo! job very well done!

CENRO forester Gaspar Cabidog, awarded with USWAG's appreciation

speeches: Eastern Samar Gov. Conrado Nicart Jr (in red). San Policarpo Mayor Menlo Nicart III (in blue. San Policarpo Vice Mayor Aki Moscosa (in white)

& CENRO forester Gaspar Cabidog (in cap)