TACLOBAN CITY- Women employees of the Department of Environment and Natural regional office 8 (DENR-8) participated in a series of beach forest tree planting activities as part of the celebration of the Women’s Month on March 30. DENR 8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that more than two 2,000 beach forest talisay seedlings were planted during the event held inside the two-hectare beach forest area in Barangay Balud, Basey in Samar.

More than 100 women employees of the DENR joined the tree planting activity as part of the Women’s Month celebration. He added that the activities were joined in by some members of Philippine Army from the 87th and 52nd Infantry Battalions, representatives from the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) and Robinson’s Corporation and town and barangay officials.

The two-hectare area planted during the said planting activities was over and above the 186 hectares beach forest area targeted and implemented for the Basey and Marabut areas in 2014 under the Leyte Gulf Mangrove and Beach Forest Rehabilitation Project. “Rehabilitating the mangrove and beach forest areas is necessary considering its crucial role in protecting the coastline, preventing coastal erosion and protecting lives and properties of the community by serving as buffer for tidal storms,” Sibbaluca added. (RESTITUTO CAYUBIT)