12 December 2022, Siniloan, Laguna, UP Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Sierra Madre Mountain Range. PMFTC Inc. planted another 5000 upland native Philippine agroforestry species to be planted at the over 9,000 hectare UP Laguna Quezon Land Grant, FEED’s first and longest Living Legacy partner that manages the protected reserve by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); as part of PMFTC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in the Philippines.
Part of PMFTC’s 2022 commitment actually covered a full Ridge (Southern Sierra Madres in Eastern Luzon) to REEForestation (past Central Cordilleras in La Union province, and West Philippine Sea in Western Luzon) program in one go – thereby including coastal mangrove planting and coral planting for 2022. While the 5000 trees were being planted in the Sierra Madres by the local forest guardians of UPLB, one week later commenced the planting of 5,000 mangroves and some 10 corals in La Union province.
We thank the Land Grant Management Office of the UPLB, particularly, Forester Reynaldo Lorida as well as the at the time 35 forest rangers for enabling the continued restoration of the UP Laguna Quezon Land Grants and the protection and conservation of of the forest ecosystem and all its living beings, including upland forest dwellers.
“The Global warming of 1.00C has been reached in 2017. At the current warming rate of 0.2 per decade, global warming of 1.50C could be reached and even surpassed between 2030 and 2052 unless proactive and drastic measures are implemented soon. Beyond 1.50C rise in average global temperature, Cruz said that we are looking at marked increase in the magnitude of impacts associated with extreme rainfall, floods, droughts, heatwaves, sea level rise, and intense tropical cyclones that will eventually put greater pressure to our lives, especially those living in highly vulnerable communities.” (Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin, DOST-STII)
“There have been many government initiatives over the years in response to climate change, but there’s still a lot to do in terms of integrating these plans and programs,” said Rex Victor O. Cruz, Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Emphasising the rationale behind FEED’s adopting the R2R approach in its LIVING LEGACY Climate Change Action Programs.
GPS Picture Gallery – Upland Reforestation Protected Reserve, Sierra Madres
PMFTC has been planting with FEED since 2018, as part of their “2020 trees by the year 2020″”, which they achieved by 2019, and continued to plant:
- PMFTC, Through the Marlboro “Keep the Philippines Beautiful” Campaign Adds 5000 Seedlings to their Protected Mini Forest in Sierra Madre (16-17 July 2021)
- PMFTC and Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Reforest 2,020 Trees Before Their Target in 2020 (02 Feb 2019)
- “Planting in the Clouds”: 75 Brave EcoWarriors Face Galeforce Winds & Rains to Restore 800 Native Trees (27 Jan 2018)
The reports for La Union follow.
La Union Report: Corals, Mangroves & Beach Cleanup in La Union Province
By Celso Jucutan, DMMMSU Environmental Lecturer & FEED Ambassador
20 December 2022, La Union. With the technical guidance of FEED Ambassador Celso Jucutan of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Bacnotan, FEED in collaboration with the local Aringay fisherfolk communities planted 5,000 mangroves (Rhizophora species) at various coastal sites in the Province of La Union on behalf of donor PMFTC, Inc. who have been planting with FEED since 2018 in Siniloan, Laguna, foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
The 5000 mangroves were spread along three locations:
- Baroro River in Bacnotan; the Mangrove Eco-Park;
- Barangay Parian Oeste, Bauang; and
- Dulao Lagoon, Barangay Dulao, Aringay – on behalf of its sponsor PMFTC Inc.
| Location | No. of mangroves planted |
| 1. Barangay Baroro, Bacnotan | 1,350 |
| 2. Barangay Parian Oeste, Bauang | 1,650 |
| 3. Barangay Dulao, Aringay | 2,000 |
| Total | 5,000 |
Seedlings were sourced out from the nurseries in Brgy. Dulao, Aringay in direct support of providing livelihood to fisherfolk families in need to extra income, to offset low seasons throughout the year battered with storms, droughts and high living expenses.
Community members are also engaged in growing and caring of the mangroves, as well as monitoring and maintenance for regular reporting carried out by partners.
Photo Gallery – Mangrove Planting
Beach Clean-up – Carille, San Fernando City, La Union
Beach cleanups are a regular operation for San Juan City, La Union, where the La Union Surf Club, Inc. (LUSC) conducts daily beach cleanups by the twenty plus official surfing schools. However, in other less frequented surf spots where LUSC Surf Camps have to travel to to teach (if San Juan central is too intense), there are infrequent beach cleanups, so the operation focused on a known heavily polluted river mouth at Carille, which receives much of the outflow of pesticides, industrial effluent and other inorganic waste matter from upstream as well as the West Philippine Sea, as it faces the port of San Fernando City La Union. A total of 27 biodegradable trash bags weighing an average 15 kilos each were stuffed with primarily all sorts of single and multi-use plastics, medical waste, and cigarette butts.
10 Corals Planted by Jongky Surf School
The 10 corals were planted by FEED partner Jongky Surf School (JSS) surf instructors Rhea Ventura, Jong Magsanoc (Owners of JSS), Junior Ventura, Ronald Pansit, Diane Penales and Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker (JSS surf instructors), all of whom were Certified Coral Propagators by FEED’s organic coral propagation partner Ocean Quest Global, training of which FEED sponsored in 2018.
On Coral Propagation – The Organic Approach (Ocean Quest Global)
- Source: Ocean Quest Global via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXqBEuP6MvQ
There are several methods of coral propagation around the world, many of which use questionable methodology including metal grids, PVC piping, leather and even electrolysis. What drew organizations like Sea Shepherd and Reef Guardian to Ocean Quest was its all-natural method. The founder of Ocean Quest, Anuar Abdullah, has spent most of his life on the coral reefs of Malaysia, observing their behavior and life cycles, and conducting his own research.
Nature Is Speaking – Ian Somerhalder is Coral Reef | Conservation International
Source: Conservation International (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVMV3StvLCs)
On Blue Carbon Ecosystems
“Blue carbon refers to the carbon sequestered, stored, and released by coastal and marine ecosystems. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses) play a critical role in the sequestration and long-term storage of carbon, thus helping to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Blue carbon ecosystems are found along the coasts of every continent except Antarctica. Mangroves grow in the intertidal zone of tropical and subtropical shores, tidal marshes occur on sheltered coastlines from the sub-arctic to the tropics, though mostly in temperate zones, and seagrasses are found in coastal waters of all continents except Antarctica.”
Source: https://reefresilience.org/management-strategies/blue-carbon/blue-carbon-introduction/
These ecosystems remove carbon from the atmosphere and oceans, and store it in their leaves, stems, branches, roots as well as the underlying sediments.
Source: https://reefresilience.org/management-strategies/blue-carbon/blue-carbon-introduction/
On a per area basis, these ecosystems are more efficient carbon sinks than most terrestrial forests (Mcleod et al. 2011, Pan et al. 2011)”,
For more on blue carbon, visit: https://reefresilience.org/management-strategies/blue-carbon/blue-carbon-introduction/
FEED Partner Acknowledgements
FEED highly appreciates the partners on ground for the successful implementation of the mangrove project in La Union:
- Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Institute of Environmental Governance (DMMMSU-IEG)
- Municipal Government of Aringay
- Municipal Government of Bacnotan
- Municipal Government of Bauang
- Dulao Fishponds and Fishpen Producers Cooperative (Aringay)
- Assosasyon ti Mangngalap ken Mannalon iti Baroro, Bacnotan (La Union)
- Bauang Fishing Group Consumer Cooperative
Thank you also to our Local La Union “Green Heroes”!
The project was also made possible through the selfless and spirited commitment of the local community in planting and caring for the mangroves. Great appreciation is given to the following local green heroes:
| 1. Ruel John Ancheta
2. Antonio Manzano, Jr. 3. Miguel Arquitola 4. Puray Ramos 5. Ador Ramos 6. Joel Valdez 7. Manny Garcia 8. Louie Libad 9. Jun Arquitola 10. Jessie Cabagbag |
11. Bel Cabagbag
12. Junjun Lucena 13. Priscilo Arquitola 14. Joel Manalang 15. Celso Jucutan 16. Christa Yvonne Jucutan 17. Christian Donna Abuan 18. Delilah Lacadue 19. Mary Jane Lacadue
|
About PMFTC
PMFTC Inc. (PMFTC), the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), is the leading cigarette manufacturer in the Philippines. It manufactures 5 out of the top 10 brands available in the market, led by Marlboro, the world’s number one cigarette brand, and Fortune, the best-selling local brand in the country.
PMFTC relies on a diverse workforce of over 4,700 employees. They work at the corporate office in Makati City, the two manufacturing facilities in Tanauan City, Batangas, and Marikina City, Metro Manila, as well as at leaf facilities, and more than 40 sales offices across the archipelago. PMFTC supports the individual development of employees and career management programs that recognize potential and reward achievements.
For more info, visit: www.pmi.com
Contact FEED for your Ridge to REEForestation Advocacy
Contact us at FEED for more details, to join our regular activities or to design your own tree-nurturing event: info@feed.org.ph or call/text +63 (0)917 552 4722.
View original video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPC29Rwr6Pg
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