In active cooperation and partnership with the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Opol and the Rotary Club – Cagayan de Oro, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/ Cagayan de Oro successfully conducted the first Mangrove planting and Coastal Clean-Up activity of the new year on 11 January 2020 in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The PMO personnel and Rotary Club members had planted 500 mangrove propagules at a mangrove site in Opol. Right after the mangrove planting, the participants proceeded to the designated beach coast for the coastal clean-up activity where they had collected an estimated 200 kilos of residual wastes.

All participants gathered as early as 5:00 in the morning. Although early, the PMO had a complete attendance of twenty-eight personnel who signified to join the event. The activity was graced by the Opol Mayor himself, Hon. Maximo Seno who also came early together with the personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO). MENRO personnel gave instructions to the participants such as the proper planting of the propagules.

The LGU Opol provided the garbage truck for the transport of the waste collected from the coastal area.  The LGU is partnering with a non-government organization for the recycling of recyclable materials and disposal of residual wastes.

The PMO had their first coastal clean-up along the shores of Opol on 25 August 2019, just a few weeks after the Port of Opol was opened and operational. With the establishment of the said Port, PMO MO/C commits to actively engage in environment-related activities in the Municipality of Opol especially for the protection and conservation of its water and marine resources.

Mangrove Tree Planting Activity of XU McKeough Marine Center

Nearly a week after, on 17 January 2020, the PMO again participated in another mangrove tree planting activity in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City. The activity was organized by McKeough Marine Center (MMC) of Xavier University—Ateneo de Cagayan.

500 mangrove propagules were planted in the Mangrove Rehabilitation Site of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO).

Last year, the XUMMC had presented the results of its Mangrove Mapping Project before the concerned LGUs and agencies, including PMO MOC. The said Project worked on the profiles of mature and newly-planted mangroves, the recommended mangrove species, and the potential mangrove planting sites along the Macajalar Bay.— by IMR Lam