The UPV Graduate School Student Council (UPV-GSSC) spearheaded a mangrove planting and learning visit activity last Sunday, 17 March 2024, at the Leganes Integrated Katunggan Ecopark (L.I.K.E.) and Leganes Prosperity Garden in coordination with the Office of the Municipal Mayor Vicente Jaen III of Leganes, Iloilo, and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).
The activity was conducted in partnership with the SK Municipal Federation of Leganes, JCI Iloilo, WVSU-CAS Student Council, MCM Law Firm, and Dr. Anjuli May Jaen, President of the Leganes Prosperity Garden.
The UPV-GSSC initiative aims to provide graduate students with valuable opportunities for hands-on community engagement, help them appreciate good governance concepts and effective partnerships beyond the classroom, and actualize UPV’s mandate on public service.
UPV Graduate School students and staff, along with representatives from partner organizations, were welcomed by Mr. Wilson Batislaon of MENRO, Leganes. He gave a brief overview of how the Katunggan Ecopark, in partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines, has transformed from being abandoned, underutilized, and undeveloped fishponds into a 15-hectare man-made mangrove forest situated in Baranggays Gua-an and Nabitasan, Leganes.
Incidentally, Mr. Batislaon is the only recipient of the Walt Disney Conservation Hero Award (2016) for his invaluable work in the transformation, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the L.I.K.E. He shared with the group the on-going efforts of the MENRO in developing the Ecopark through assisted natural regeneration and active monitoring. He also presented the future projects/installations for the Ecopark’s improvement which were designed by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) for free. He then gave instructions on the proper way to plant the mangroves before everyone proceeded to the actual site for mangrove planting.
To cap the half-day activity, the group proceeded to Leganes Prosperity Garden for a learning visit in their hydroponic greenhouses, where the officer-in-charge briefly described how the greenhouses were operated and maintained to produce organic lettuce and other plant varieties.
Hands-on experience in mangrove planting and an educational visit to the hydroponic greenhouses have exposed the participants to concrete measures in climate-change mitigation and adaptation. This opportunity to participate in environmental conservation efforts is not just a privilege but a responsibility that entails continuous engagement and collaboration.
Kudos to the 2023-2024 UPV-GSSC Officers for spearheading this worthwhile activity:
- Chairperson : Jason Vincent B. Caldeo
- Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs : Mark Ivan C.Tabol
- Vice Chairperson for External Affairs : Joeffet A. Coopera
- Secretary General : Jade Karrie S. Palma
- Treasurer : Rona P. Pagayon, Event Head
- Business Manager : Penny Exocet H. Soliban
- Public Relations Officer : Alvin P. Alba
- Representative to the University Student Council : John Leovic B. Villanueva
- Representative to the Graduate School Standing Committee : Ryan B. Bacutoc
- Adviser: Prof. Rica P. Cainglet
