Earth Day bayanihan powers mangrove stewardship activities

The theme of Earth Day is once again “Our Power, Our Planet,” driving focus on the ability of consistent collective action in protecting ecosystems and advancing local solutions. In the Philippines, the theme is articulated in the spirit of bayanihan, or communal unity and cooperation, which is most prominent when Filipinos help one another in times of calamity.

But even without a storm, several groups and communities in the country—partnering with public and private sector actors—are already thinking ahead, working together to transform vulnerable coastlines into protective natural barriers of mangroves, which can help shield homes and livelihoods from storm surges and erosion.

Guided by its purpose of Transforming Energy for a Better World, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) supports such initiatives through bayanihan in its host communities in Bataan and in Davao, where it stewards a Marine Protected Area in the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park.

Mangrove adoption in Bataan

AboitizPower, through GNPower Dinginin (GNPD), led a mangrove enhancement planting activity at its Mangrove Adoption and Protection Program site in Barangay East Calaguiman, Samal, Bataan.

This brought together 30 volunteers from the Provincial Government of Bataan, through its Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the local people’s organization Samahan ng Mangingisda ng San Rafael—Anak Dagat (SAMASAD) in early March 2026.

A total of 2,300 mangrove saplings were planted during the activity, consisting of Pagatpat (Mangrove Apple, Sonneratia caseolaris) and Bungalon (Api-api, Avicennia marina). These species were selected for their adaptability and strong ecological benefits, making them well-suited to the water and land conditions of the province.

The initiative forms part of GNPD’s Samal Mangrove Adoption and Protection Program, a P10 million project covering five hectares of mangrove area under a five-year Memorandum of Agreement with Bataan and SAMASAD, which was sealed in August 2024.

Mangroves help nurture marine life that sustains the communities, which shows how the program supports the livelihoods of hito (catfish) and tilapia farming.

GNPD’S Samal Mangrove Adoption and Protection Program. Volunteers work together to plant 2,300 mangrove saplings in a five-hectare area in Barangay East Calaguiman, Samal, Bataan, adopted by AboitizPower through GNPower Dinginin.

At the same time, GNPD and GNPower Mariveles Energy Center (GMEC) also expanded its stewardship of the Orani Mangrove Experimental Forest in Barangay Kabalutan, Bataan by 12 hectares. This brings its total adopted area to 32 hectares and reinforces its support for the forest’s coastal biodiversity, which began in June 2023.

The Memorandum of Agreement, signed together with the government and local stakeholders, sees an amount of P24 million spread out over seven years for the creation of a robust green wall and a natural shield against storm surges.

“This partnership is a testament to what we can achieve when the private sector aligns its goals with environmental stewardship,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Region 3 Assistant Director Ricky Hernandez.

“By investing in the Orani Mangrove Experimental Forest, AboitizPower is not just planting trees; they are restoring a critical ecosystem that safeguards biodiversity and strengthens the climate resilience of our coastal communities in Bataan,” Hernandez added.

Last year, AboitizPower, through GNPD and GMEC, also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the public sector and civil society in Bataan for the Tubo-Tubo Island Mangrove Conservation Project—a five-year, P14-million project to establish and steward 10 hectares of mangrove forest also in Barangay Kabalutan, Orani, Bataan.

“Aside from serving as spawning grounds for marine life, mangroves also protect our area from storm surges and help the environment by absorbing carbon,” said Orani Mayor Antonio Arizapa Jr., explaining the programs’ significance to his municipality.

“It shows that real progress happens when the government, the private sector, and communities work together,” he shared.

According to the 2024 State of the Coasts of Bataan, the province’s mangrove area decreased from 3.95 square kilometers to 1.56 square kilometers between 2012 and 2016 due to human activity and climate change. This necessitates mangrove planting activities, regular monitoring, protection measures, and community awareness campaigns.

The efforts of GNPD and GMEC on mangroves support DENR’s Administrative Order 15-90, which outlines regulations for the utilization, development, and management of mangrove resources in the Philippines, aligning with the government agency’s Project TRANSFORM, a science-based program to strengthen resilience against climate change.

The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park in Davao City

Along a coast in Punta Dumalag, Davao City, the eight-hectare Aboitiz Cleanergy Park is an ecological preserve and biodiversity learning center that features a mangrove reforestation site and coastal forest.

Managed by AboitizPower subsidiary Davao Light and Power Co. and the Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park began as a Pawikan Center, primarily serving as a hatchery and rescue center facility for marine turtles, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water).

Eventually, the same ideals of community-based conservation and environmental stewardship expanded into efforts to improve and maintain the area’s vegetation, which includes multiple native tree species and mangroves.

In the first three months of 2026, 1,365 mangroves have been planted in Aboitiz Cleanergy Park by volunteers, bringing the total number to 35,183 since 2014.

Notably, mangrove planting activities and coastal clean-up efforts in the first quarter were mostly led by the youth, with significant participation from the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, student-led group Kalikap of the Philippine Science High School - Southern Mindanao Campus, and the Davao City National High School - Science Department.

Don Enrique National High School, Brokenshire College Toril, Mabini National High School, and Dona Carmen Denia National High School also worked together with the Boy Scouts—Davao City Council for the Environment.

At the same time, over a hundred working professionals conducted their corporate social responsibility at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, with team members from a local BPO and a hotel chain adding to the number of mangroves planted.

Last March, Belgium Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova and her team also visited to learn about the Park’s conservation efforts in protecting coastal ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and promoting environmental awareness.

“Opening the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park to the local community and various organizations and groups allows for opportunities to put people face-to-face with the UN SDGs,” said Davao Light President and COO Enriczar Tia, emphasizing SDG 17 or Partnerships for the Goals.

“Volunteering can teach environmental stewardship, responsible citizenship, and leadership through meaningful community service,” Tia added.

The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park actively promotes decarbonization in urban areas via habitat conservation and biodiversity management. Thanks to the enhanced flora, it is a sanctuary to more than 100 species of endemic and migratory birds and marine species.

“Our Power, Our Planet” and bayanihan are evident in the proactive measures being taken by communities in Bataan and Davao to restore and sustain their mangrove forests. Together with AboitizPower, the stewardship of these adopted areas supports the UN SDGs, protects local ecosystems, and looks after the welfare of coastal communities today and in the future.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Aboitiz Power Corporation.