RC Roxas Meets With Cooperator Families of Punta Cogon Mangrove Greenbelt Project

RC Roxas, through Rotarian Powell del Rosario, chair of the special committee on environment, Rotarian Ana Moyer and PE Pip Acepcion, met with the cooperator familes of the Mangrove Greenbelt Project in Punta Cogon and the community organizer yesterday, February 25, 2006 at the community chapel.

The meeting was called in order to discuss the plans and goals for 2008 as far as the Mangrove Greenbelt Project is concerned.

Gilda, the community organizer presided over the meeting in the presence of five out of the six cooperator families, and all agreed to parcel the 1.7 hectare mangrove reforestation area on Thursday, February 27, and subsequently plant and support 200 seedlings a month thereafter.

Several concerns were brought up which included the need for a small banca which the cooperator families will use to plant, water and monitor the seedlings, and to get them across the reforestation area at anytime.

Other concerns included the need for more seedlings, a bigger nursery, and additional bamboo poles for the building of a wave breaker.

Presently, the nursery houses about 300 seedlings only and can only accommodate as much due to the limited space. Wild seedlings can also be obtained from nearby areas but it can only supply the project around 200, and these may not as study as those kept in the nursery before being replanted.

The cooperator families started planting early last month, however due to unfavorable weather conditions, less than 20% survived.