Mandaluyong, April 25, 2023 – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) launched its Mangrove Restoration Initiative in Bonkokan Ubos in Lila, Bohol last April 22, planting over 1,200 mangrove plants along the community’s coastline. The project is part of the organization’s observance of Earth Day and nationwide call for the utilization of nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change. 

Mangroves are critically important to the ecosystem, as they provide habitat for thousands of aquatic animals, stabilize coastlines, and protect communities from storm surges and coastal flooding. 

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon has always reiterated the importance of collaboration and working with nature to build community resilience and foster sustainability, adding, “One way to empower communities and strengthen their capacity is to build partnership with them; involve them in the discussion, planning, and solution processes,” added Chairman Gordon. 

This initiative is part of PRC’s Greening Red Cross Red Crescent Disaster Risk Reduction: Saving Lives through Working with Nature (Greening DRR) Project, supported by the American Red Cross, with a broader mission to use nature-based solution to strengthen the communities’ resilience against natural hazards and cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship and ownership among communities. 

In 2021, the province of Bohol was among the provinces of Visayas severely hit by Typhoon Odette. Now, the PRC works with various stakeholders in Bohol, including communities and members of the local government unit, to kickstart the adoption of nature-based solutions in the province’s coastal areas.

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