Pueblo de Oro Continues its Environmental Protection Advocacy: A Year-long Mangrove Tree-Planting Activity in Cebu

2018 May 2 | by Apple Barretto

As part of its continuing environmental management and protection program, Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation “Pueblo de Oro” commissioned Bagasawe Farmers and Fishermen Association (BFFA), a community based non-government organization, to undertake a mangrove tree-planting project in Tuburan and in Sitio Judas Belt, Babag II, Cebu.

To formalize the green project, Pueblo de Oro and BFFA signed a Memorandum of Agreement last February 23, 2017 followed by a ceremonial tree-planting led by PODC Senior Vice President Mr. Leonardo B. Dayao, Jr., Assistant Vice President Mr. Benjamin Y. Roleda and BFFA Vice President Ms. Wilhelmina Portrano.

The planting of 65,000 mangrove seedlings and propagules kicked off in the shoreland of Barangay Bagasawe in the town of Tuburan and culminated  within the Pueblo de Oro property in Sitio Judas Belt, Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City, the latter being done to protect the adjacent Pilipog River and Mactan Channel. In addition, Pueblo de Oro provided a 20-meter wide mangrove reserve within its property along the Mactan Channel. The culminating activity was held last April 5, 2018 and was participated in by PODC management and staff, together with BFFA, Barangay Babag and DENR’s Task Force Kalikasan Officials.

Bagasawe, a seaside village in Tuburan, Cebu benefitted from the PODC project with the planting of 65,000 mangrove seedlings covering approximately 22 hectares of shoreline. A decade from now, the mangroves will be fully grown with strong roots to stabilize the coastline and prevent erosion from waves and storms, bringing the province of Cebu another step closer to a cleaner and greener environment. Moreover, mangrove forests eventually become home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk, thus further contributing to Cebu’s biodiversity.

During the recently concluded year-long mangrove tree-planting activity, an official of the Department of Environment and National Resources expressed his wish for other developers to follow and emulate what Pueblo de Oro  pioneered for its mangrove tree-planting activities in Tuburan and in Sitio Judas Belt, Babag II, Cebu. He cited that Pueblo de Oro is the first and only developer who is hands-on and directly involved with the tree-planting activity.

Aside from its regular tree planting forays, Pueblo de Oro has consciously advocated environmentalism in all of its residential projects across the country. From the establishment of a 40-hectare urban rainforest in its Cagayan de Oro township development to the introduction of innovative, carbon-neutral, solar-powered public transport in PODC Sto. Tomas, Batangas, the company’s commitment in enhancing the natural environment is one of the pillars by which all PODC projects are anchored.

This is a testament to the Developer’s strong commitment to and respect for  the environment and the welfare of the people in the community. It is because of these initiatives that the Company adopted from the time it began developing its residential projects two decades ago, the objective that its residents should be able to enjoy a safe, worry-free lifestyle in an environment that’s conducive to raising a family.

Other partners involved in the tree-planting were:  the local government units of Cebu through its City Environment & Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Task Force Kalikasan and  ICCP Land Management, Inc.

This article first appeared in Cebu Daily News (Philippine Daily Inquirer) on April 22, 2018: Source.