Ministry among the mangroves

FILE: Elmer Alvarez, a fisherfolk group leader in Aroroy, Masbate. (PNA photo by Mar Serrano)

AROROY, Masbate — Like that old country song, Sixteen Tons, Elmer Alvarez owed his soul, so to speak, to a mining company.

Decades ago, Alvarez worked for the Atlas Mines in this town and recalled a life of mostly working and drinking. Then he was diagnosed with what he called a mysterious disease and languished for a while in a hospital in Cebu.

Atlas Mines closed down and Alvarez settled in Sitio Mabariw in Barangay San Agustin here, a 30-minute boat trip from the town proper.

He became a farmer and fisherman. And then he saw the light. He stopped drinking and eventually became a pastor of a church in nearby Barangay Matalangtalang.

Alvarez also became president of Paraugma kag Parapangisda Para sa Pakauswagan Inc.

, a fisherfolk’s group with 95 members, most of whom are from San Agustin.

Since 2014, his group has been tasked by Masbate Gold Project (MGP) to plant mangrove propagules in the village.

“We have been planting 20,000 to 30,000 propagules a year since 2014. We are being paid every quarter with the casualties replanted before payment,” Alvarez said.

The mangrove rehabilitation of Aroroy particularly in eight impact barangays was part of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) of Masbate Gold Project to ensure environmental protection, community awareness and social responsibility within these areas.

The EPEP is a provision in the Mining Act of 1995 requiring operating mining companies to establish and implement an environmental management program that will take care of and even enhance the environment in its operating area from the start to the end of mine life.

Baseline environmental studies conducted within the Port Barrera here showed that the area has only one-eighth of its original living coral cover. In the surrounding areas of Masbate, dynamite fishing, cyanide fishing, and overfishing using unsustainable methods are rampant and continue unabated.

These have a significant effect on the coral reef environment by destroying habitat and decimating the fish stock.

The damage from these methods can take generations to naturally repair and, in many cases, are irreparable.

Coral reef and mangrove ecosystems function in a symbiotic relationship, which enhances tropical and subtropical coastal environments. The health and extent of coral reefs are largely dependent on coastal mangrove forests, which stabilize shorelines, remove pollutants, improve water quality, and provide nursery habitat that maintains fisheries. If fisheries are degraded due to the destruction or loss of mangrove habitat, the coral reefs will be adversely affected.

Through MGP’s EPEP, the mangrove forests of Port Bari-is and Port Barrera have grown exponentially since 2014. Barangay Puro was able to replant 145,000 propagules in 32.61 hectares. Balawing village was able to replant 150,000 propagules over 33.73 hectares. Almost 27.78 hectares in Panique were planted with 123,500 propagules and San Isidro was able to replant 90,000 propagules in 20.24 hectares.

Although they are outside the eight impact barangays, three other barangays were included in the mangrove reforestation project. Matalangtalang was able to replant 90,000 propagules in 20.24 hectares while Don Pablo was able to regrow 115,000 propagules also in 25.87 hectares.

Because of the enthusiasm of Alvarez’s group, San Agustin was able also to replant 115,000 propagules in 25.78 hectares.

“Kailangan hubas kung magtanim, isang metro ang kalayo sa isa’s isa (It has to be low tide when we plant, they are separated a meter apart),” said Alvarez. They are paid PHP100 per surviving propagule, which amount to at times more than PHP2 million per year.

“We are not exclusively fisherfolk, we also plant kamoteng kahoy (cassava), mais (corn) or palay,” Alvarez said. “So the money we get from mangrove planting contributed a lot.”

He also noted that his fish catch has improved since the mangroves recovered.

“Noon yung kaunting isda na nakikita namin, dumami na (Then, the few fish we saw eventually multiplied),” he said.

As for the money they get from MGP, Alvarez said they divide it, depending on the number of propagules each member planted.

He said that although fishing remains his main source of livelihood, the money he acquired from mangrove rehabilitation helped in the education of his children.

He said he has seven children and three of them already finished college. “Isa ay nasa kolehiyo at dalawa pa sa high school at isa sa elementarya (One is still in college, two are in high school and one is a grade schooler),” Alvarez said.

“Salamat sa Lord sa tulong at biyaya niya. May ginamit siyang makaragdag sa kabuhayan namin (Thanks to the Lord for his help and blessing. He gave us a way to uplift our livelihood),” Alvarez said.

Today, he considers mangrove planting a ministry to help protect the environment and people in their community.