Usapang Bakhawan in San Enrique

Last Saturday (March 23), Mangrove Matters PH visited Brgy. Tibsoc in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, to conduct the event Usapang Bakawan: An Educational Discussion on Mangrove Conservation. The event primarily aimed to educate the youth and children of the area because instilling environmentalism at a young age is crucial for nurturing a lifelong commitment to conservation.
The discussion emphasized the importance of mangroves, the ecological and socioeconomic benefits they provide, and proper mangrove planting techniques. We also facilitated numerous engaging interactive activities such as games, drawing, and reflective exercises. Additionally, we immersed the youth and children in their local mangrove area and provided them with a lot of trivia.
We also had the opportunity to hold a turnover ceremony with the Women's Association of San Enrique, as they manage the mangrove ecopark. We provided them with 6,000 polybags, a 20-meter mesh net for their mangrove nursery, and 6 informational posters to display and aid in educating tourists.
The wetlands of San Enrique are part of the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) which is one of the Ramsar Sites (wetlands of international importance) in the Philippines and is also home to thousands of migratory shorebirds during migration season.
We extend our gratitude to the Positive Youth Development Network for securing this funding from UNICEF Philippines for its Kabataang Resilient Network members. We would also like to thank the Mayor of San Enrique Mayor Jilson D. Tubillara MD for permitting us to conduct this event, and most importantly, the Local Government Units of San Enrique especially the Municipal Environment Management Office with ma'am Elenita Amen for assisting us in promoting this event within their community.