British NGO, Panay town sign pact on mangroves rehab

MANILA, Philippines — A British non-government organization has signed an agreement with Panay town in Capiz to rehabilitate mangrove plantations in the province. Online news site The News Today (www.thenewstoday.info) said Panay Mayor Dante Bermejo signed the pact with the Zoology Society of London for the project. Signing the memorandum of agreement (MOA) were Bermejo, Vice Mayor Gualberto Bernas and ZSL representative Josephine Savaris; town council member Leobeth Delicana and Buntod village captain Restituto Bueno. The ZSL mangrove project and Panay town will jointly rehabilitate abandoned government-based fishponds and degraded nipa palm stands. Both parties will also increase coastal protective, food resources and livelihood income through the sustainable management of the mangrove forest. They will also jointly provide technical and financial assistance, training, advisory and related assistance in the implementation of the mangrove rehabilitation. Bermejo said mangroves promote eco-tourism and livelihood in Panay town, which was adjudged as the cleanest and greenest town of Western Visayas. However, Bermejo warned that because of environmental destruction, the climate has changed and sea levels have gone higher. The mayor said Buntod is the pilot area of the mangrove rehab, which will be replicated in the other villages later on. - GMANews.TV