Following its two-year hiatus imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) expresses its support and participation in the conduct of the 19th celebration of Love Affair with Nature held in Sitio Bucana, Bgy. Iwahig, today.
Earlier at the break of dawn, the PCSDS led by Acting Executive Director Nino Rey Estoya, along with partners from MRI Project-GeoScience Australia and University of Sydney, headed to Sitio Bucana to plant its two-hectare coastal areas with about 8,000 Mangrove propagules, joining other representatives from both public and private sectors in Puerto Princesa City.
The Love Affair Nature, which started in 2003, is also being participated by the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Western Command, Cooperative Bank, Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, City ENRO, City government, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, KOMANDO brothers, Philippine Red Cross, Civil Society Organizations, and Non-government Organizations.
The event also serves as an opportunity to multiply the City’s total Mangrove forest cover.
To date, Puerto Princesa City has a total Mangrove forest cover of 6,000 hectares, many of which were the contribution of the Love Affair with Nature’s annual Mangrove-planting activities previously held in Bgy. San Jose, Bgy. San Manuel, and Bgy. Inagawan South.
In a welcome message, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron emphasized the importance of Mangrove in Palawan biosphere, calling for community participation and vigilance.
“Patunay na ang mga taga-Puerto Princesa ay tunay na nagmamahal sa ating kalikasan. Ang mangrove forest ay ginagawang bahay-tirahan ng ating mga wildlife. Ito ay nesting area ng iba’t ibang mga ibon. Ang bakawan ay palakihan ng mga yamang dagat, dahil dito nangingitlog,” Mayor Bayron said.
“Ako ay nananawagan sa lahat ng mga mamamayan ng Puerto Princesa. Pagtulungan natin, proteksyunan natin, palaparin pa natin ang ating Mangrove forest. Kung mayroon tayong nakikitang nagva-violate, pagtulungan nating sawayin. Ipaliwanag kung bakit mahalaga ang bakawan sa susunod ng salinlahi,” he added.
Spearheaded by the City Environment and Natural Resources led by Atty. Carlo Gomez, this year’s event has also paved the way for 109 couples to be officiated into marriage on a Valentine’s day by the City Mayor himself.
The PCSDS has always been supportive of the program-activities of Love Affair with Nature since its inception 19 years ago, keeping true to its mandate of ensuring sustainable growth and development in the province as stipulated in the Republic Act 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act.