Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — Despite having doubts about President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s plan to include tree planting in flood control, an environmental group still proposes mangrove reforestation as a measure to aid the initiative.
Ronnel Arambulo, spokesperson of fishing group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), said “the destruction of mangrove forests exposes fishing families to damaging floods and storm surges.”
“Mangroves are vital to marine ecosystems and biodiversity as they serve as fish sanctuaries, pollution filters, and defense for coastal communities,” he added.
After noticing the deforestation of mountains in Maguindanao during his aerial inspection of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng’s impact, Marcos sought to include tree planting in the government’s flood control projects.
Pamalakaya doubts the President’s tree-planting plan, citing a presidential decree signed by his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., which allowed “massive destruction” of mangrove forests through its Fishpond Lease Agreement.
“In the 1920s, mangrove forests used to cover almost 450,000 hectares. But two years after the [Presidential Decree] 704 was enacted, mangrove forests drastically shrunk to 220,243 hectares due to the rapid conversion of coastal areas into fishponds owned by big fishing and exporting firms,” Arambulo said.
“Unless Marcos Jr. recognizes that it was during his late dictator father’s term when vast tracts of mangroves and forest covers were wiped out, his statement for tree planning is nothing but pure lip service,” he added.
The group also emphasized that tree planting will not be enough to fix the county’s environmental problems and said the administration should take concrete steps such as “reclamation and land-use conversion.”
“For starters, the Marcos administration can openly reject reclamation projects in Manila Bay and instead restore its mangrove forests and seagrasses that were cleared for reclamation and conversion over the years,” Arambulo said.
Marcos earlier expressed his dismay at the high death toll from Paeng, especially in Maguindanao where almost half of deaths caused by flash floods and landslides were recorded.
