Text by Kristine A Galarrita | Contributed photos from MBDA

The mangrove nursery assistance project in El Salvador officially in progress after the Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) has officially received the accumulated funds raised from the 2nd Steag Environmental Golf Tournament held in November 2014.

The turnover ceremony transpired on February 3, Tuesday in Molugan, El Salvador City.

Dr Carsten Evers of Steag State Power Inc and Col Francisco Pabayo of 4th Infantry Division handed in the proceeds amounting to Php126, 864.00 to MBDA chairperson Laguindingan Mayor Oliver L Ubaub.

The proposed mangrove nursery will be established in El Salvador City as part of the alliance’s habitat and resource management programs.  

MBDA’s technical working group coordinator and assistant provincial planning and development officer Dr Josefino Bascug highlighted that the project aims to strengthen their reforestation efforts, enrich biodiversity, and regional stock of seedlings and propagules in the Macajalar Bay and in Northern Mindanao, in general.  

The project also intends to fortify MBDA’s advocacy on mangrove conservation and rehabilitation together with other sectors.

An alliance among local government units, MBDA was established in 2008 for bay-wide integrated coastal management, initiated by Xavier University - McKeough Marine Center (XU-MMC) with funding support from MISEREOR Germany.