FROM ABANDONED FISHPONDS TO MANGROVE FORESTS: TIME FOR A CABINET CLUSTER

FROM ABANDONED FISHPONDS TO MANGROVE FORESTS: TIME FOR A CABINET CLUSTER

For far too long, our approach to mangrove reforestation has been symbolic at best—planting a few trees here and there during Environment Month, snapping pictures for social media, and then walking away as if the job is done. But we all know that environmental degradation, especially along our coastal areas, cannot be solved with a few token efforts.

We don’t need another ceremonial planting. We need an integrated, nationwide effort to restore and expand our mangrove ecosystems. And to make that happen, it’s time to elevate this into a Cabinet-level concern. Yes, I am proposing the creation of a Cabinet Cluster for Coastal Resilience and Mangrove Restoration.

Why Mangroves Matter More Than Ever

Mangroves are not just trees. They are natural barriers that protect our coastlines from storm surges and rising seas. They are nurseries for fish and marine life. They filter pollution and trap carbon from the atmosphere. In other words, they are nature’s infrastructure—quietly working to protect lives and livelihoods.

And yet, we have lost over half of our mangrove forests in the past century, mostly to make way for fishponds, resorts, and commercial developments. We cannot turn back time, but we can turn abandoned, underutilized, and degraded (AUD) fishponds back into thriving mangrove habitats.

This idea is not new. Former DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga had already taken a major step in this direction by ordering an evaluation of abandoned fishponds for potential mangrove restoration. It was a bold move that deserved more attention and support than it received.

Now, as Secretary Raphael Lotilla takes the helm of the DENR, I hope he builds on that legacy and brings new energy to the effort. But let’s be clear: this is not just DENR’s job. It’s time for other agencies to step up too.

A Cabinet Cluster: Coordinating Beyond the DENR

Currently, the mangrove restoration agenda sits within the DENR’s National Greening Program (NGP), but the scale of action needed today demands more than what one department alone can manage. Restoration efforts cut across several areas of governance—land use, climate resilience, agriculture, fisheries, local governance, disaster preparedness, and public works.

That’s why I propose a new Cabinet Cluster for Coastal Resilience and Mangrove Restoration to institutionalize coordination and elevate mangrove reforestation to a whole-of-government priority. This Cluster would include:

• DENR – for land classification, environmental management, and reforestation strategy
• DA-BFAR – for identifying fishponds no longer in use and promoting sustainable aquaculture
• DPWH – for ensuring infrastructure does not block natural water flows vital to mangrove survival
• DILG – to mobilize LGUs, especially coastal barangays, for ground-level implementation
• DOST and Academe – for research and mapping of viable mangrove sites
• DEPDEV (formerly NEDA) – for integrating mangrove restoration into regional and national development plans
• Climate Change Commission and NDRRMC – to align this effort with disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies
• Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)-- for wildlife protection and restoration

From Technical Working Groups to Long-Term Strategy

In the past, inter-agency collaboration was left to Technical Working Groups (TWGs). While useful in limited contexts, TWGs are often temporary and low impact. A Cabinet Cluster, on the other hand, creates an institutional platform for long-term planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring—backed by the authority of the President.

Imagine what we could accomplish if these agencies moved in unison, guided by a shared roadmap and monitored by a unified scorecard of progress. We could identify all abandoned or idle fishponds nationwide, classify them based on ecological value, and systematically reforest the viable ones.

And instead of leaving LGUs to fend for themselves, we can empower them with training, funding, and technical guidance, all under a national framework.

Not Just Trees—But Forests

Let us be clear: the goal should not be to plant a few mangrove seedlings for optics. The goal is to create mangrove forests. That means complete ecosystems that can sustain biodiversity, regulate water systems, and support coastal communities. We must think in terms of hectares, not individual trees.

Mangrove Forests as Disaster Prevention

With the Philippines among the most disaster-prone countries in the world, mangrove forests must now be seen as essential to national security. Every storm that hits our coastlines causes billions in damage and countless lives lost. Mangroves may not stop typhoons, but they can dramatically reduce their impact.

We often speak of “building back better” after disasters. But how about restoring nature first, so we’re less vulnerable in the first place?

Final Thoughts

We can’t afford to keep planting mangroves as photo ops. The science is clear. The threat is urgent. The potential is enormous.

It might sound simplistic to propose a Cabinet Cluster just for mangroves—but consider this: the threats we face are no longer simple. And neither should our solutions be. If we want real results, we need real coordination—at the highest levels.

Let us begin by recognizing mangrove forests not just as trees near the shore, but as pillars of resilience for the entire nation.

Let the convergence begin—this time, in the Cabinet.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

09-05-2025