Cebu City allotting a million pesos for mangrove project

CEBU, Philippines -  The City Council has approved P1 million to fund the mangrove nursery project to be initiated by the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission in coordination with the City Agriculture Department.

This, after Ranulfo Sebusa, special operations officer 3 of the Bantay Dagat Commission, requested a letter to charge against PAGCOR Funds the same amount for their initiation of the said project.

The proponent said the project will help coastal communities from storm surges and provide fisher folks with a potential means of livelihood.

"The recent experience with super typhoon Yolanda showed that mangroves help coastal communities from storm surges. Thus, the project has both livelihood and environmental objectives," Sebusa's letter said.

Councilor Mary Ann De los Santos, however, questioned the proposed activity as she was unaware of any feasible site in the city's shores where mangroves could be planted.

"Asa? We need hunasan in any of the 80 barangays in Cebu to have the mangrove planting (We need a foreshore in any of the 80 barangays in Cebu to have the mangrove planting. Is there any?)," De los Santos said.

But Cabrera explained that there are three areas identified as suitable for mangrove planting. These places are be found in Mambaling, Inayawan and Tongo Island.

It was also explained during the discussion that the P1 million budget for the nursery project will be used to purchase equipment, tools and supplies, as well as pay for the needed labor to start the activity.

Equipment includes bamboo poles, agricultural nets, tie wires, nylon string, woven sack cloth, turn buckles and garden soil, plastic bags, hand towel, rubberized hand gloves, wheel borrow and shovel for their operations.

Under the proposal, the committee in-charge will also hire 10 laborers.  (FREEMAN)