“I will not sugarcoat the serious problems faced by mangroves in our country.” The line dropped by Ney when asked about the risks faced by these coastal wetlands. Ney Cortez, Science Communication Lead of Mangrove Matters PH, shares her insights as a speaker during the panel organized by The Southeast Asian Exchange last January 31, 2026. Ney emphasized the serious threats to mangroves, including reclamation, unscientific coastal development, improper planting, and others. I