Growing Green: SMPC kicks off Earth Day 2023 with mangrove planting

INTEGRATED energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) celebrated this year’s Earth Day by planting 1,500 mangrove seedlings in Barangay Semirara, Caluya, Antique on April 15, 2023.

The mangrove enrichment activity was actively supported by over 150 participants including SMPC employees, Philippine Coast Guard personnel, and residents of Barangay Semirara.

Mangroves support food security and livelihood since they serve as a valuable nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans. By stabilizing shorelines, these coastal forests also provide protection from a plethora of disasters such as storm surges, tsunamis, and rising sea levels.

Furthermore, mangrove forests can sequester an estimated three to five times more carbon per hectare versus tropical forests, thus playing a key role in climate change mitigation.

“Planting mangroves is more than just growing trees. It nurtures hope, resilience, and a better future for generations to come,” said Engr. Ruben P. Lozada, SMPC Mining Operations Vice President and Resident Manager, during the opening ceremony held at Pinagpala Pier, Barangay Semirara.

Commander Jonie Belarmino, Marine Environmental Officer of the Western Visayas Philippine Coast Guard, lauded SMPC’s consistent efforts towards environmental stewardship and promoting biodiversity.

SMPC has so far planted more than 640,000 trees covering over 192 hectares of coastal areas in Semirara Island. A 2022 study by a third-party expert revealed that surviving mangroves in Semirara Island showed the highest value of carbon stock than any other documented carbon stock assessments in the Philippines to date.



In partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the company continues its restoration and biodiversity programs towards environmental sustainability.

To know more about how SMPC goes beyond business to create a sustainable future through its Environmental, Social, and Governance programs, visit facebook.com/SMPCEmpoweringOthers.

Source: Panay News