Japanese firm plants mangroves in Olango

CEBU, Philippines - A Japanese firm that operates inside the Mactan Export Zone in Lapu-Lapu City has planted more than 100,000 mangrove seedlings in Olango Island.

The planting of mangrove seedlings, part of the continuing commitment of Kanepackage Philippines, Inc.'s commitment to environment conservation covers at least eight hectares in sitio Asinan in barangay Sabang.

Rodney Maguyon, plant supervisor of Kanepackage Philippines (Cebu Office), said representatives from Kanepackage Thailand , Kanepackage Vietnam, Kanepackage China, Kanepackage Japan, and Kanepackage Philippines participated in the planting.

The Japanese packaging firm has already planted close to 500,000 mangrove trees in this island since it launched its KP-GREEN EARTH program last 2009, which is in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Olango Island.

Aside from the regular mangrove planting, the company also provides a monthly honorarium to forest guards under the Suba Olango Eco-Tour Cooperative.

DENR has been encouraging various organizations to do their share in saving the environment by means of tree planting activities and sustaining the program as embedded in its corporate social responsibility.

Kanepackage Japan (KPJP), founded by Mr. Sakutaro Kanehira in 1976, has committed to plant five million mangrove seedlings in this island.

KP-GREEN EARTH is the company's initiative to help in the fight against climate change by reducing CO2 gas through mangrove forestation that may lead to the reversal of global warming.

The program primarily focuses on the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystem through the regular conduct of mangrove-tree planting activities in various areas of the island.

Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns, and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters; protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents, and typhoons; produce organic biomass (carbon) and reduce organic pollution in near shore areas by trapping or absorption. 

According to DENR 1995 statistics, conversion to fishponds, prawn farms, salt ponds, reclamation and other forms of industrial development has reduced the mangrove area to 117,700 hectares.

The Phase I of the project covered 3.8 hectares and planted a total of 130,000 mangrove in barangay Sabang, another 8.6 hectares and planted 130,000 mangrove in islet barangay of Pangan-an, another 104,085 mangrove also planted in Pangan-an and 100,000 mangrove planted in Barangay Suba.

The company has planted a total of 415,485 mangroves at 27.4 hectares lot in Olango island barangays.

According to Maguyon, Kanepackage Group will venture into other areas for mangrove planting once the area reserve allotted by DENR will be fully consumed. The company is considering Bohol Island as its next target seeing the towns of Tubigon, Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, Ubay, and Inabanga as potential areas for expansion.

Other areas also being considered include coastal areas in Bais City, Negros Oriental, Barili, Camotes and Bantayan in Cebu province.

Kanepackage Group of Companies is also gearing to apply for a "CARBON CREDIT" certification under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change so that the company can quantify and certify the KP-Green Earth impact on the environment. (FREEMAN)