Around 2,000 mangroves were planted in the coastal area in Barangay San Isidro, San Fernando, Cebu.
The mangrove planting activity was attended by 100 Visayan Electric employees, as well as volunteers from the Labor-Management Cooperation, AboitizPower Distribution Utilities, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), and the Philippine Coast Guard.
San Fernando Mayor Mytha Canoy and representatives from Barangay San Isidro also joined the activity.
“Mapasalamaton kita kay gitagaan ta nila ug opportunity nga makatanom og mangrove dri para makatabang pud ta og protect sa environment. Nahimamat nako ning mga lumulopyo dri, ako silang gipangutana, kumusta man ang sitwasyon dri pag Typhoon Odette,” Engr. Raul Lucero, president and chief operating officer of Visayan Electric, said in his speech during the event.
“Ang ilang mga balay wala ma guba tungod sa tubig. Kay inig hapak sa balud, ang tubig nga gikan didto mabungkag naman tungod sa mga pagatpat nga naa dri gitanom. Mapasalamaton kay sila nga naa na dha ang mga mangrove,” he continued.
The mangrove planting event, a partnership between Visayan Electric, RAFI and people’s organization in the barangay, was a great experience, according to Adrian Tan, a maintenance engineer for Visayan Electric.
“From hearing stories of how the mangroves helped the locals, to seeing my fellow Kaibigans’ enthusiasm in making a difference. It amazes me how even our smallest actions, when multiplied by hundreds to millions of people, can transform the world,” he explained.
A variety of mangroves, including bangalon, bakhaw babae and lalaki, pagatpat, and kulasi were planted by the volunteers.
Visayan Electric Company, Inc. is the second largest electric utility in the Philippines. It serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga and four municipalities of the greater part of Metro Cebu – Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando. Its franchise service covers an area of about 674 km2 with an estimated population of 1.73 million.
Sustainability, which supports environmental and community development within its franchise area, is one of its primary corporate social responsibility focus areas.
