While the COVID-19 pandemic is unfortunately not over yet as we enter a brand new year, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MO/C) just concluded the mangrove planting and coastal clean-up activity now on its second year of implementation in the Municipality of Opol, Misamis Oriental on 16 January 2021.

In active cooperation and partnership with the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Opol, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), and the Rotary Club Cagayan de Oro, the PMO sustains its commitment to help protect and preserve the environment particularly the water and marine resources.

In compliance with the minimum health standards, limited PMO personnel and Rotary Club were able to participate in the activity. However, even with this reduced number of “green warriors” compared to last year’s activity, approximately 300 mangrove propagules were planted at a mangrove site in Opol. Right after this, the participants proceeded to collecting wastes along the beach coast. The garbage collected, which were mostly plastics, were washed ashore during the high tide the night before.

The PMO together with the aforementioned partners had their first mangrove planting and coastal clean-up drive on 11 January 2020 where 500 mangrove propagules were planted.

With the establishment of the Port of Opol which operates since 2019, the PMO MO/C commits to actively engage in environment-related activities in the Municipality of Opol especially for the protection and conservation of the marine resources.