Sustainable Initiatives Led by Local Experts

        Facilitating community engagement activities such as visiting the coastal communities  in Lian, Batangas, one of the project areas of the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) of the De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila deepens community  involvement  of  members of the academic community.

      The challenge of COVID 19 pandemic and all related quarantine  measures and required health protocols only helped strengthen collaboration among communities, the private  sector and government institutions.  DLSU-COSCA facilitated activities such as the provision of food packs to assist vulnerable sectors like our local fishers in Lian, Batangas affected by the pandemic. 

       Amid the contagion, COSCA continue to pursue mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation activities through strengthened partnerships-providing opportunities to members of the academic community and or its stakeholders to contribute to environmental conservation and protection initiatives, in line with the framework of faith in action.

      Mangrove seedlings of Avicennia sp. (900 propagules) were successfully planted in a newly identified planting site in Sitio KayReyna, Lumaniag, Lian, Batangas.  The mangrove tree planting activity was made possible through the collaboration of  Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon and Civil Engineering Society (CES) (DLSU-based student organizations), Lian Fisherfolk Association, Inc. (LFA) and DLSU-COSCA. COSCA coordinated with LGU Lian, LFA and the student organizations (Santugon and CES) the mangrove planting while the latter provided the logistical requirement and bought  the mangrove seedlings from the nursery of the local fishers.   The actual planting activity was facilitated by 15 members of LFA.

     The COVID-19 pandemic continues to remind  us the importance of empowering our communities and ensuring sustainability of  initiatives - community partners leading grassroots activities.  Members of our partner community organizations will regularly inspect the planted seedlings in keeping with the project’s goal to help communities conserve and protect the environment.

The following personnel made this activity possible: Mr. Leo Tadena (LSDP Coordinator), Ms. Annadel Sapugay (ENVISAGE Development Specialist), Mr. Noel Quenamot (Community Partnership Specialist) and Mr. Ariel Casihan (President, LFA).