CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The high floods spawned by back-to-back tropical storms Pedring and Quiel ravaged the coastal communities of Masantol town.
The inundation though in Barangays Alauli, Balibago, Bagang, and Sagrada was not as devastating as that in Sapang Kawayan and Niqui.
“The mangroves served as storm breakers, making the first line of defense of the barangays,” said former Masantol Vice Mayor Marcelo “Bajun” Lacap, a resident of the area.
“Swerte ang mga may bakawan sa mga paligid nila, naligtas ang mga buhay, fishpond at bahay sa mga malalaki at matataas na alon dulot ni Pedring,”Lacap said.
“In contrast where there are no mangroves, the communities of Sapang Kawayan ang Niqui are now in danger of being erased as part of Masantol as they are prone to severe flooding, high tide and storm surges.”
Mangroves, ranging from three to ten years in age have been planted along the 28-kilometer stretch of the Pampanga River.
At the boundaries of Masantol-Macabebe in Pampanga and Hagonoy in Bulacan, two patches of old mangroves forests cover about 20 hectares which was spared from the widening and dredging of the Pampanga Delta Development Project, with funding from the Official Development Assistance of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
The mangroves that survived are of various varieties like pagatpat or palapat aso, pototan, and bakawan babae. Nipa palms also abound in the area.
Lacap said the Masantol folk have been grateful for the mangrove protection and the reforestation initiatives by the community, students and teachers of Tarik Suliman High School and the non-government organization Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabiliation.
The increase awareness of the local residents on the benefits mangroves provide them “further heightened with their protection from the devastations of Pedring and Quiel” would result to greater protection and enhancement of the coastal environment, Lacap added.
“I can see increased mangrove-planting activities in Masantol,” Lacap said.
Both scientists and environmentalists have long been saying that mangroves play a vital role in the coastal ecosystem, serving as breeding ground and habitat for many living organisms that are sources of nutrients and organic matter and thus help maintain the ecosystem.
Mangroves also act as sanctuaries of birds.
A hectare of mangrove forests is said to support more than 600 kilograms of naturally-produced fish each year caught in near-shore waters.
