The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Puerto Princesa headed by Atty. Carlo B. Gomez organized the activity in celebration of the World Wetlands Day 2026.
Joining the activity were Saribuhay, City ENRO Savers’ Group, Barangay Local Government Units (BLGU) of Iwahig and Irawan headed by Punong Barangay Yolanda Evangelista and Punong Barangay Rosana Araneta respectively. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) headed by Senior Superintendent Gary A. Garcia and FilOil also joined the event.
“This activity is part of the initiative of declaring the mangrove forest of the strait from Barangays Sicsican to Mangingisda as a “wetland,” due to its high ecological significance; its dense forest cover and the large-scale migratory birds’ activity within these areas. Hence, this proposal was driven by the occurrence of man-made destructions such as encroachment and deforestation,” the City ENRO said in a statement.
The City ENRO has also urged the public to help spread the awareness in appreciating the vital contribution of wetlands, and continue participating in tree planting activities.
The event’s participants planted Tangal (Ceriops tagal) species, a variety of mangroves in the country.
Tangal mangroves, known as yellow-spurred mangrove or spurred mangrove, are highly valuable, hard-wooded trees found in the middle to upper intertidal zones of tropical coastal areas. They are crucial for both environmental protection and supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.