TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has forged a strategic partnership with the non-government organization PH Haiyan Advocacy Inc. to restore and maintain a sprawling 74-hectare mangrove plantation in this city.
The initiative, announced on Saturday, April 11, 2026, aims to revitalize coastal ecosystems that have served as a “natural shield” for Tacloban since the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
The project focuses on areas originally established in 2014 under the National Greening Program (NGP).
- The Challenge: Many of these locations are “graduated” NGP sites—areas that have completed their initial three-year planting contracts and no longer receive direct government funding for maintenance.
- Damage Assessment: According to DENR senior forester Julie Cruzada, these sites require urgent rehabilitation due to damage from recent natural disasters and the ongoing construction of the city’s tide embankment project.
- The “Adopt-a-Site” Scheme: To ensure long-term sustainability, the DENR Central Office has authorized NGOs and private groups to “adopt” these sites, providing the necessary funding and manpower that the government can no longer supply.
The 74-hectare restoration spans several key coastal villages (barangays) in Tacloban, including:
- Anibong and Bagacay
- Old Kawayan and Cabalawan
- Naga-Naga and Lower Nula-Tula
- Diit, San Isidro, Tagpuro, and Tigbao
To date, approximately 185,000 mangrove trees have been planted across these zones. Under the new agreement, PH Haiyan Advocacy Inc. has committed to funding the continued protection and maintenance of these trees.
The DENR, through its offices in Palo and Leyte, will provide technical supervision and help the NGO develop a five-year work plan. This plan includes marking clear boundaries for the 74-hectare site and implementing community-based protection strategies.
Forester Cruzada emphasized that the partnership is vital for disaster risk reduction, noting that mangroves are essential for absorbing storm surges and protecting the city’s 1,800 fisherfolk whose livelihoods depend on the health of the Cancabato Bay ecosystem.