Maasin City, Southern Leyte (28 April) -- To mitigate the impact of natural disasters, the Provincial Government in close coordination with the GTZ, a German government organization based here established a greenbelt along the coastal areas to highlight the Earth Day celebration on April 22.

Coastal Resource Management Officer Eva Abad said in a phone interview, that a synchronized mangroves planting in some identified municipalities throughout the province were conducted. Said municipalities mentioned were St. Bernard, Libagon, Hinunangan, Silago and in Maasin City.

To highlight the world-wide event, a short program was conducted at the town of St. Bernard. The short program included lectures on climate change and other issues concerning the environment in order to increase awareness and care for planet Earth and its people, Abad bared.

After the short program, the mangroves planting followed along the coastal areas was participated by the Parish Social Action Center, the local government employees, the barangay council members, youths and the coastal communities.

Ms. Abad revealed that the provincial government led by the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and the GTZ allocated 4,000 mangrove seedlings for St. Bernard, 4,000 for the town of Libagon, 2,000 for Hinunangan, 2,000 for Silago and 1,000 mangrove seedlings for Maasin City.

While the celebration was focused in the town of St. Bernard, other municipalities identified also conducted their own activities with the Municipal Agricultural Officer and the ENR Officer concerned, as the lead persons, Abad said.

Gov. Damian G. Mercado and a representative from GTZ attended the launching activity at St. Bernard.

Earth Day in Southern Leyte was a milestone on its own. Environmentalists consider it the only time that a significant event has captured simultaneous province-wide and worldwide attention - global warming or climate change.