By HENRY EMPEÑO | April 26, 2026

MASINLOC, Zambales — Volunteers from various stakeholder groups here joined Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel in rehabilitating degraded mangrove areas within the Masinloc and Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape (MOBPLS), the first and only marine protected area in Central Luzon.

Donaver Guevarra, chief of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO-Masinloc), said his office, along with local community organizations, planted a one-hectare area with more than 9,000 mangrove propagules in a series of rehabilitation activities at Barangay South Poblacion here.

Volunteers from the Barangay South Poblacion, Mother Rita Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Taltal National High School, and the DENR-Protected Area Management Office joined the rehabilitation project, he said.

The restoration of degraded mangrove areas is a critical initiative to stabilize shorelines and further provide habitat for marine species at the MOBPLS, according to CENRO-Masinloc.

“Initiatives like this are crucial in restoring our coastal ecosystems and ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from the protection and resources that mangroves provide,” Guevarra said.

“We are pleased to see the active participation of the community and our partners in this mangrove rehabilitation effort,” he added.

The 7,500-hectare marine protected area plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources, as it is home to 33 mangrove species, mostly belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Avicenniaceae, and Sonneratiaceae.

The MOBPLS encompasses 86 hectares of mangrove forests, 800 hectares of seagrass beds, and 1,500 hectares of coral reef systems that support local fisheries and help protect shoreline communities, CENRO-Masinloc officials also said.

Guevarra said participants in the recent mangrove rehabilitation efforts specifically planted Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora stylosa propagules, as these species were more suited to the site’s zoning, soil type, and environmental conditions.

Mangroves, which are natural nursery grounds for fishes, are an economically important resource in this town where 26 percent of the population depend on fishing, aquaculture, fish processing, and fish trading for their income.

Masinloc has a total coastal length of 42.2 kilometers and 11 out of its 13 barangays located along the coastline.

However, local mangrove forests have increasingly become degraded over the years due to conversion of mangroves into fishponds, reclamation for development, pollution and siltation, overexploitation, as well as storms and sea level rise, the DENR said.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo stressed that mangrove rehabilitation is a key component of the agency’s strategy to protect coastal communities from climate-related risks while preserving biodiversity.

He said that through continued collaboration with local stakeholders, the DENR can strengthen its programs and achieve lasting environmental gains. ▲