Hover over the items below to know more.
What are we doing about it?
Currently, we have a campaign with Oceana, "Dear Mr. President" to call on President Bongbong Marcos to certify the National Coastal Greenbelt (NCG) Bill as urgent and priority for the upcoming 20th Congress.
Why do they matter?
The Philippines stands on the frontlines of the climate crisis and our coastal greenbelts are a vital shield. Our mangrove forests don’t just protect our shores but they sustain communities, nurture biodiversity, and strengthen our resilience against rising seas and intensified storms.
Coastal greenbelts refers to a strip of natural or artificially created coastal vegetation including mangrove and beach forests stretching to our coasts. It is a measure to prevent coastal erosion and reduce natural hazards by planting trees and creating forests along the coasts, aimed at protecting life, property, and embankments from tidal surges and other environmental impacts.
What are coastal greenbelts?
About the National Coastal Greenbelt Bill →
The National Coastal Greenbelt Bill aims to protect and restore the Philippines' mangrove and beach forests that will nurture marine biodiversity, support and protect coastal communities, and mitigate global warming.
How can you contribute?
Simply draft a letter as an organization, alliance, institution, or individual addressed to the President, with a message on why there is a need to certify the NCG bill as urgent and priority.
Then submit your letter below.
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT
Dear Mr. President (DMP) is a campaign by Mangrove Matters PH, Oceana, and Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines that promotes the passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt (NCG) Bill, a policy that protects (fine implementation of illegal acts) and restores (reforest a min. of 100m) mangrove and beach forests (coastal greenbelts). A 100m coastal greenbelt can reduce up to 66% of wave energy during tidal surges caused by typhoons or storms. With the Philippines experiencing an average of 20 typhoons each year, this policy will shield our coastal communities from flooding.
Part 1 of DMP concluded on June 13, when Mangrove Matters PH, Oceana, Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines compiled over 50 letters from various sectors. These letters were hand-delivered to Malacañang Palace and marked "Received," anticipating they reach the President and he take into consideration everyone's appeal to include the NCG Bill in his priority legislative agenda and/or certify it as urgent for the 20th Congress.
The campaign continues until the week of the President's State of the Nation Address. From then on, we will bring the appeal to the legislature by furnishing copies of the letters to the Senators and Congressmen once the legislative process for bill begins.
Now, as we move forward with the DMP campaign, we encourage you to make an appeal to President BBM, whether it be in text, audio, or video format. We will compile and materialize all your submissions. If you participate in this campaign, you will have a virtual seedling planted below in your honor. Your name will pop up when you hover over the virtual seedling, signifying your contribution in the advocacy to protect and restore mangrove forests through the establishment of coastal greenbelts.
