A SMART Way of Saving Verde Island Passage

Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) signed a multi-sectoral partnership on the preservation and conservation of the Calatagan coastal area on April 16, which covers one of the largest coastal municipalities located in the Verde Island Passage.

The Verde Island Passage, recognized as the global epicenter of marine biodiversity for having the “highest concentration of marine species of any region in the world’s oceans,” has been identified as one of the most threatened marine areas in the world due to changing climate temperatures.

At a gathering of scientists organized by Conservation International last year to assess the impacts of climate change on the Verde Island Passage, the inclusion of mangroves in protected areas was one of the recommended measures to protect and preserve the area.

Under the agreement with the Municipality of Calatagan, Batangas, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and people’s organization Samahan ng mga Artisanong Mangingisda sa Calatagan (SAMMACA), SMART will adopt selected areas of Calatagan to be part of the company’s tree planting and mangrove rehabilitation program, SMARTrees. The mangrove areas initially covered by the agreement are in Barangays Bagong Silang and Talibayog.

The MOA is an output of the multisectoral workshop planning that was held early March detailing a three-year mangrove planting project in Calatagan.

“SMART is very happy to be part of this public-private partnership. We are committed to help in the preservation of the Calatagan coastal area, and the Verde Island Passage” said SMART Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto.

Prior to the signing ceremony, SMART employee-volunteers joined the local community and program partners in a mangrove planting in Barangay Bagong Silang. Some 5,000 mangrove propagules were planted in the whole day activity.

This is the second year that SMART is conducting mangrove planting activities in the municipality of Calatagan under the SMARTrees program. In 2009, SMART employee-volunteers and community partners were able to plant some 70,565 propagules in Barangays Balibago, Talibayog and Bagong Silang.

The nationwide reforestation efforts of SMART via the SMARTrees program has already resulted in the planting of over 500,000 seedlings and propagules in about 13 provinces across the country. Planting sites include Quezon, Batangas, Bulacan, Bataan, Palawan, and Camarines Sur in Luzon; Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, and Guimaras in Visayas; and Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao.