MEDIA groups based in Zambales, Olongapo and Bulacan and various stakeholders joined hands in planting mangrove propagules and cleaning up the Binictican Mangrove area at the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday.

Vic Vizcocho, president of the Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA) Zambales-Olongapo chapter, said a total of 200 mangrove propagules were planted during the activity.

The activity was spearheaded by the CLMA and the Samahang Mamamahayag ng Subic Freeport and was joined by officials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the Subic Clark Railway Project, New Clark City, and Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic.

The event was also attended by Amethya de la Llana-Koval, OIC SBMA senior deputy administrator for regulatory and manager of the Ecology Center; Carmela Reyes-Estrope, regional president of CLMA; Leilani Macasaet, BCDA vice president for public affairs; Armie Lamas, OIC SBMA Corporate Communications; and Floreta Cana, Student Council president of The Manila Times College of Subic.

The local government of Subic, Office of the First District Representative of Zambales, and Philippine Navy also sent support to the program.

Also present were Micah Aquino from the NLEX Corp. Corporate Communication Team; Justine Jay Navarro of Subic Enerzone; Benjamin Antonio, president and general manager of Subic Water and Sewerage Co. Inc., and representatives from RP Energy, Fuel East Energy Corp., Subic Bay I, Meglio Marine Services, Aman Sinaya Water Refilling Station, and GNPower Dinginin of Mariveles, Bataan.

Vizcocho said the SBMA Ecology Department provided the propagules needed for the mangrove planting under the supervision of environmental management specialist Cenevix Maniago, who guided the volunteers on how to properly plant the mangroves.

After the cleanup drive, the group of over 130 delegates went to the Pamulaklakin Nature Park where they learned from 80-year-old Aeta elder 'Tatay Kasoy' the basics of jungle survival.

The renowned Aeta has been an instructor of jungle survival for American soldiers stationed inside the then American Naval Base in Subic.

Llana-Koval lauded the volunteerism displayed by the group and hopes more volunteers would take the same initiative to help protect the ecosystem of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

She said that both the government and the private sector have a stake in the protection of the environment, and what better way to do so than by providing a platform that would unite the two sectors in a tree-planting program.

The official expressed her gratitude to the CLMA for spearheading the program.