A Small Fishing Village with a Giant Goal
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Thousands of young mangrove trees growing along the shorelines of San Miguel bay in Camarines Sur. Mangroves can help lessen the effects of tsunamis. According to the environmental information website, ecoworld.com, deaths caused by tsunamis in some parts of South East Asia were prevented because of its natural defense system composed of coral reefs and mangrove forests.
In a small fishing village in Calabanga, Camarines Sur, the shoreline used to stretch further into the sea. When the river changed its course, a big chunk of land went in with the water.
Soon they realized that the land they are standing on now will be no more if they would not act quickly. Faced with the constant danger of flooding, storm surges and wild winds from typhoons, the people decided to start a mangrove forest to prevent further siltation and create a natural buffer from the disastrous effects of typhoons.
Other barangays in Calabanga have also undertaken mangrove reforestation programs. Calabanga is among the top disaster-prone areas of the country due to its proximity to the eastern seaboard. The province also ranks 31st on the nation’s list of the top 50 poorest provinces.
Ronaldo Coner, Bgy. Captain of Bgy. Punta Tarawal, remembers how some residents laughed at those who were planting propagules into the muddy soil by the river. Bgy. Secretary Cresencia Florentes quips, “You can laugh all you want now, but someday you will realize the value of what we are doing.”
Clueless as to the real benefits of mangrove forests and doubtful about how the thin stalks could possibly protect the community from powerful waves and storms, the people of Calabanga are acting solely on instinct and faith. Faith fueled by desperation due to limited community funds–to build a seawall, for instance–and faith made stronger by their common resolve to take matter into their own hands. As Pablo Librero of Bgy. Sabang says, “We want a real and lasting solution to the flooding, but since we don’t have the money for a more permanent solution, the next best thing is mangrove reforestation.”
