Ten residents of Barangay Matiao who planted 1,000 mangrove shrubs in their coastal area were rewarded with P10,000 in cash each.

City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat personally handed the cash rewards to Reograce Reoma, Jay Paul Rufin, Jemar Diuyan, Teresita Sasam, Hanie Marie Geraldo, Alfredo Monteagodo Sr., Aljeb Monteagodo, Rex Monteagodo, Renaldo Erejer, and Alfredo Monteagodo Jr.

The Mangrove Rehabilitation and Reforestation Project was started in 2017 by then Mayor Carlo Rabat and is being continued by the administration of Mayor Michelle considering its positive impact on the environment.

The mangrove planters started planting the shrubs on July 16, 2019 with a promise from the city government that they would be paid ten pesos for each planted mangrove shrub.

Immediately after planting 1,000 mangroves each, the Matiao residents were initially paid P6,000 each with the remaining balance to be paid two months after provided their planted mangroves survive.

After a follow-up inspection showing the total of 10,000 planted mangroves healthy and surviving, Mayor Michelle awarded the balance of P4,000 to each of the ten residents for their hardwork.

Mayor Michelle meanwhile thanked the mangrove planters, whose main source of living is fishing, for their dedication to nurturing and protecting the environment.

The project is spearheaded by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Aside from the coastal area of Matiao, they had also implemented the project in Pujada Island, Dawan, Mamali, Macambol, Badas, Matiao, Tamisan and Dahican. (CIO MATI)