Baganga’s Mangrove Forest restored: A National Greening Program (NGP) Success Story

PKDA Vice-Chairman Agapito Ignacio

Members of the Poo Kinablangan Developers Association (PKDA) which are beneficiaries of National Greening Program (NGP) in Baganga, Davao Oriental expressed gratitude for the government’s assistance when their community was battered by Typhoon Pablo in 2012. 

Mangrove area in 2015

Mangrove area-2015

The super typhoon destructed the municipality’s mangrove area which caused the loss of livelihood of the coastal community. There were even reports that the residents resorted to slaughtering endangered species such as sea turtles due to scarcity of food. 

Beneficiaries' fresh catch

In 2015, the DENR XI aimed to restore the community’s livelihood by rehabilitating its mangrove area.  Through NGP, the office handed over cash assistance to PKDA as the selected Peoples Organizations or POs which the beneficiaries used to purchase propagules for the replanting of mangroves.

CENR Officer Dave Fabila site visit

As of 2020, a total of 234 hectares has been planted with mangrove mostly with Bacauan and Pototan species.  

PKDA's Floating Restaurant

With the remaining cash that they had, they were also able to establish a “Floating Restaurant” as their additional source of income. It is exclusively managed by the PKDA members. Though its operation was temporarily stopped due to Covid-19 pandemic, they’re still looking forward for a comeback.

A member of the PKDA maintains their floating cottage

     

“We are grateful for the opportunity that the government gave us. We are now enjoying a better living condition. Thank you as well to DENR that despite our far-flung area, you reached out to us.” PO Chairman Hermes Bonsay expressed. 

 

Rehabilitated Mangrove Area- 2020

DENR XI-Baganga CENR Officer David Fabila, Jr. also attest to the program’s success. “Right now, we can see that the project is successful in terms of socio-economic upliftment and environmental rehabilitation.”, he said. 

NGP is a reforestation program of the DENR which likewise aims to alleviate the poverty in the country.