DENR: Restoring wetlands, rivers vital amid El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — The restoration of critical wetlands, rivers and coral reefs in protecting communities is critical against the “very strong” El Niño, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said yesterday.

To address the concern, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources launched a nationwide ecosystem restoration program to mitigate the impacts of extreme dry heat.

“We are ensuring that our ecosystems remain functional buffers against extreme heat. Protecting our wetlands, rivers, and reefs nationwide is one way of protecting the communities and ensuring environmental survival,” the DENR chief said.

In Caraga, the Protected Area Management Office of the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary implemented strict ecosystem-based adaptation measures to protect peatlands and freshwater wetlands which act as natural sponges that regulate water flow, store massive amounts of carbon, and cool surrounding areas to protect communities against extreme heat.

In the National Capital Region and Central Luzon, the DENR’s Manila Bay Site Coordinating and Management Office (MBSCMO) intensified river cleanup and waterway maintenance activities under the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Initiative.

In partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers program, the MBSCMO deployed River Rangers for a 10-day cleanup operation along river channels, creeks and estuaries in Pampanga – removing 98,618.93 kilograms of solid waste from trash traps and riverbanks.

The MBSCMO continues to monitor water supply sources, rivers, and creek tributaries in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan and Tarlac. In the Bicol Region, DENR-PENRO Masbate identified shallow coral areas and seagrass beds in Mobo and San Jacinto vulnerable to extreme heat.

‘Ready for any eventuality’

The Philippines is ready for any eventuality, Malacañang said yesterday as foreign governments have urged citizens to prepare for possible disasters and other emergency situations.

Japan and some European countries have urged their citizens to stockpile essential supplies and brace for disasters as concerns mount over geopolitical tensions, possible threats from hostile states and cyber-attacks that may disrupt the operations of public utilities.

Meanwhile, during the launch of a nationwide school-based hydroponics project, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said investing in hydroponic gardening is a solution to shortage in food and water that might be aggravated by a prolonged super El Niño. – Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Marc Jayson Cayabyab