SARANGANI PROVINCE — Communities across SOCCSKSARGEN (SOX) took significant strides this September toward climate resilience and environmental protection, with three major greening initiatives marking the month. From coastal greenbelts to bamboo plantations and tree-planting for the ozone layer, government agencies, local government units, and community volunteers came together in a united call for ecological restoration and sustainable development.
In Malapatan, Sarangani Province, the Protected Area Management Office of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (PAMO-SBPS), in partnership with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) Malapatan, advanced Phase 1 of its coastal greenbelt project on September 12 at Purok Lower Lasang, Barangay Poblacion. A total of 200 native coastal seedlings—such as Bitoon (Barringtonia asiatica), Bani (Millettia pinnata), Bitaog (Calophyllum inophyllum), Malabago (Hibiscus tiliaceus), and Talisay (Terminalia catappa)—were planted.
Planted at proper intervals, these species are designed to create a layered greenbelt that stabilizes the shoreline, prevents erosion, and provides shelter for coastal wildlife. The project, supported by the Marine Wildlife Rescue Center nursery, represents Malapatan’s pioneering role in establishing a coastal greenbelt within the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape. Seedlings will also be shared with academic institutions, local governments, and other stakeholders to encourage wider conservation participation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12 kicked off the 2025 Philippine Bamboo Month with the planting of around 1,700 bamboo propagules across SOX. Under the theme “Kawayan: Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran sa Kinabukasan Para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the activities were held in Kidapawan City, Alamada, Kalamansig, Koronadal City, Lake Sebu, Kiamba, Isulan, and Esperanza.
With the participation of more than 190 individuals—from DENR personnel to local government officials, schools, and civil society groups—the event underscored bamboo’s dual role in environmental protection and economic empowerment. Bamboo is known to stabilize riverbanks, restore degraded lands, and prevent erosion, while also serving as raw material for construction, furniture-making, and handicrafts. The Philippine Bamboo Industry Roadmap even projects the potential creation of up to 1 million jobs nationwide if the sector is fully developed.
In Maitum, Sarangani, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Kiamba and 61 volunteers planted 200 Talisay (Terminalia catappa) seedlings on September 15 in Barangay Mabay. The event coincided with the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer and drew participants from MENRO-LGU Maitum, barangay officials, the Philippine Coast Guard, PNP, the 105th Infantry Brigade, and local residents.
This activity highlighted the value of bayanihan in protecting the environment, while also raising awareness about the link between local conservation and global climate challenges.
Together, these initiatives show how coastal communities, local governments, and national agencies in SOX are weaving together environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and livelihood opportunities. From bamboo groves to coastal greenbelts and community-led tree planting, the region is setting an example of how collective action can green the landscape while empowering the people who depend on it.