Some volunteers from fisherfolks community in Atimonan during the mangrove planting activity held last March 22 at Brgy. Balugohin coastal area.
As part of its commitment to contribute to environmental protection, Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E) on March 22 conducted a mangrove planting activity in partnership with local government of Atimonan.
A total of 2,000 mangrove propagules were planted by 47 volunteers along the two-hectare coastal area of Brgy. Balugohin.
Rollan Avenilla, President of Atimonan Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda (ASMM), said the activity will be beneficial to the fishermen in the area since this is expected to boost fish production in the area.
In addition, the mangrove planting activity is expected to help reduce vulnerability of the area to storm surge, flash floods and coastal erosion according to Municipal Administrator and MENRO Officer-in-Charge John Francis Luzano.
He also confirmed that the mangroves will serve as sanctuaries for fish and other marine species where they can rest, lay eggs and reproduce.
MENRO will closely monitor the mangrove seedlings planted to ensure high survival rate. Other partners involved in the mangrove-planting were Bantay Dagat, Sangguniang Barangay of Balugohin and members from Atimonan Coastal Food Production Association.
This activity, which falls under A1E’s 1Dagat program, aims to increase public awareness on the importance of mangrove ecosystems; promote shared responsibility among the local stakeholders; and protect and maintain the mangrove forests along Lamon Bay.
Reynalita M. Santana, Vice President for External Affairs of A1E parent firm Meralco PowerGen (MGen), said the company plans to adopt more areas including Brgy. Inaclagan and Brgy. Buhangin for reforestation this year.
“We look forward to working with our partners to join the move to protect the environment by exploring other remaining forests and coastal mangrove plantations where this activity can be done,” she said.
A1E, which considers environmental stewardship a core pillar of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, also conducts tree-growing and solid waste management activities.
A1E is the developer of a planned 1,200-megawatt (MW) high efficiency, low emissions coal-fired power plant to be constructed in Brgy. Villa Ibaba, Atimonan, Quezon.
It is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGen, the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) – the country’s largest power distributor.