MANGROVE LOVING PENGUIN: Wanderful Ligao's Mangrove Forest - An Inspiring Example of "Our Power, Our Planet" Theme of Earth Day 2026

April 22 is International Mother Earth Day.

In 2009, the United Nations officially designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day. International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resoruces to address global concerns, and to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of mankind. International days are powerful advocacy tools.

Every year, Earth Day has a theme and for the year 2026 it is "Our Power, Our Planet." This theme focuses on mobilizing communities, educators and leaders to take daily actions to protect the environment and drive lasting change through collective, people-powered efforts. It highlights that environmental progress is built through everyday actions and community-led solutions at the local level.

Local systems - cities, barangays, schools, peoples organizations - continue implementing solutions around the world that strengthen energy reliability, conserve resources, rehabilitate ecosystems and reduce risks because they are grounded in economic sense and public safety. The Mangrove Loving Penguin know this to be true in my visit of mangrove forests in the many coastal provinces in the Philippine archipelago.

In the town of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental, there is a group of fishermen's wives who have banded together to daily take care of a mangrove forest in Brgy Tomongtong while at the same time generating cash from the sale to seafood (caught by their husbands) to tourists visiting the mangrove forest.

The Mangrove Loving Penguin with the officers and members of Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail Women Workers' Association (March 2024) .   

In the town of Tinambac in Camarines Sur, there is a Boys Scout troop that has garnered recognition for their work on rehabilitating the mangrove ecosystem in Brgy. Bagacay. Just recently, it was found out that this Bagacay mangrove forest is home to one of the rarest mangrove species in the Philippines , the Kandelia candel, and the same Boys Scout troop, led by their high school teacher, is the de-facto protector of this rare Philippine flora.

Members of the Bagacay Outfit 723 of the Eagle Scouts Association of Camarines Sur inside the mangrove forest in Tinambac, Cam Sur (Feb 2026)

And in Ligao City in the province of Albay, the Local Government Unit led by Mayor Fernando V. Gonzalez , and in cooperation with local communities, took a stand against illegal fishing and illegal cutting of mangroves in its coastal barangays. Such joint initiatives have resulted in fish stock surging, coral reefs regenerating, and the mangrove forest expanding to 46 hectares.

The Mangrove Loving Penguin know this to be true as I have visited these places. On the part of the mangrove forest in Ligao City, I wandered to this beautiful place in March 31, 2026. To visit the mangrove forest, I had to write a request letter addressed to the City Mayor's Office. Thanks to the assistance of the City Tourism Office - Ligao City , the Mangrove Loving Penguin was granted permission.

Ligao City is a success story. It succeeded in protecting its mangrove forests through a multi-pronged approach involving strict anti-illegal fishing enforcement, community-led rehabilitation, and strong local government support. By planting over 130,000 mangrove seedlings across three coastal barangays and establishing marine protected areas, the city restored its coastal ecosystems to act as natural disaster barriers.

The Mangrove Loving Penguin kayaking in the mangrove forest located in the border of Brgy Maonon and Brgy Cabarian in Ligao City (March 2026). 

Drone photo of the mangrove forest in Wanderful Ligao. It is  low tide.

Key pillars of Ligao City's success include active community involvement, enforcement and protection, marine protected areas, integrated approach, and national recognition.

Active community involvement. Residents of Barangays Cabarian, Maonon and Catburawan are actively involved in planting and managing several species of mangroves including Bungalon (Avicennia marina), Miapi (Avicennia officinalis), Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba), Bakawan Babae (Rhizophora mucronata), Bakawan Lalaki (Rhizophora apiculata), Bakawan Bato (Rhizophora stylosa), and Tangal (Ceriops tagal).

Bakawan Bato (Rhizophora stylosa)

Pagatpat (Sonnertia alba)

Enforcement and Protection. The local government of Ligao City, in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and police, enforces strick anti-illegal fishing measures which were vital in curbing blast fishing. In addition, Bantay Dagat team members regularly patrol the 46-hectare mangrove forest which discouraged the harvesting of mangrove trees for charcoal (uling) use.

Located in Sitio Tambac, Brgy Maonon, the light yellow building is the site office of the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Team 

Table of Organization of the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Team of Ligao City

Poster reminding the community that cutting of mangroves is prohibited and illegal. 

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Ligao City increased its marine sanctuaries from 21 hectares in 2004 to over 135 hectares, providing a protected habitat for mangroves which serve as fish nurseries.

Important reminder about Ligao City Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve

Integrated Approach. Mangrove rehabilitation is paired with strict garbage disposal policies and coastal cleanups to ensure the ecosystem remains healthy. More importantly, there is a broader plan to improve the developmental infrastructure in the coastal area as shown by the establishment in 2023 of the Ligao City Legislated Multi-Species Marine Hatchery under Republic Act 10950 in Brgy Maonon. It is a collaboration between BFAR Region 5 and the local government of Ligao City. BFAR will manage the facility and provide training to local personnel for the first two years before transitioning it to the LGU. The hatchery aims to address food security and provide livelihood opportunities for locals and fisherfolk in the coastal area. Providing steady and stable livelihood for the communities around the mangrove forests would be beneficial for the mangrove ecosystem.

The Mangrove Loving Penguin taking a look at tilapia hatchlings inside the Ligao City Legsilated Multi-Species Marine Hatchery in Brgy Maonon. 

Feeding time.

National Recognition. These efforts of protecting the coastal environment earned Ligao City recognition in the regional and national levels. In 2015, the Ligao City LGU was recognized by the DENR Environment Management Bureau (DENR/EMB) and Green Convergence as one of the LGU Eco Champions in the country for good environmental governance and best practices that will serve as good example for other LGUs. In 2022, the Department of Agriculture- BFAR recognized the efforts of the Ligao City LGU on sustainable and coastal and fisheries resources management by awarding it as the Top Regional Winner in the search for Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) 2022. It was also named one of the Top 5 National Finalists for the 2022 MMK Award.

Ligao City Mayor Fernando Gonzalez receiving the prize as the Top Regional Winner (Region 5)  of the 2022 MMK Award. 

These initiatives of Ligao City have created a sustainable livelihood for residents, protected shorelines from storms and helped restor marine biodiversity. Not to mention, it unlocks ecotourism opportunities for the coastal barangays of Ligao City.

The 46-hectare mangrove forest in the border of Brgy Maonon and Brgy Cabarian is such a wonderful place to visit. Me and my son Marcel enjoyed being close to nature and the mangrove forest of Wanderful Ligao did not disappoint. Thanks to the passion of coastal resource management officer and tourism cordinator Bob Porcalla. This public servant is truly dedicated to his task of protecting the coastal ecosystems and promoting tourism.

The Mangrove Loving Penguin with Ligao City coastal resource management officer and tourism coordinator Bob Porcalla

Bob keeping an eye on the bird watching Marcel.  

At lowtide in the morning, we were given the opportunity to walk inside the mangrove forest and get close to inspecting the various mangrove species that abound in the area. A special and rare treat for us is to go inside a Bantigi cluster which is a colony of old growth Pemphis acidula mangroves which possibly are more than a hundred years old.

Low tide in the  mangrove forest in Brgy Maonon-Brgy Cabarian

To my right is the mangrove forest zone and to my left is the beach forest zone. Two forest types that are part of the coastal greenbelt.

Marcel flying the drone among the Bakawan mangroves at low tide. 

The Mangrove Loving Penguin inspecting a Bakawan and checking what particular species. 

It is a Bakawan Lalaki.  A distinctive feature of this particular Rhizophora mangrove species is the presence of two-flowered stalks (two balls) as opposed to the Bakawan Babae which typocally has more than two flowers per stalk. 

At the mangrove nursery administered by Bantay Dagat team members.   

In the middle of the Bantigi cluster  inside the Ligao mangrove forest. The Bantigi mangrove are typically short, often desribed as a shrub. But the Bantigi in Ligao City are taller than an average sized man, indicating that these are very old.  

Later in the day, at high tide, the Mangrove Loving Penguin had a grand time kayaking inside the mangrove forest in Brgy Maonon-Brgy Cabarian.  High tide is the optimal time for this adventure, as the elevated water levels allow one to paddle deeper into the forest, transforming the mangroves into a labyrinthine, shaded tunnel of vibrant greenery.

Preparing to enter the mangrove forest with my kayak. 

  

To reach the entrance to the mangrove forest, I kayaked more than 1 kilometer from Sitio Tambac where the site office of the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Team. Back and forth is more than 3 kilometers.  

Kayaking in the pristine waters of a mangrove forest at high tide...

...is an immersive, tranquil, and almost surreal experience.   

Kayaking allows one to get a closer look at particular mangrove species at high tide. This one is a Pagatpat mangrove. 

Preparing to head out to sea again from the mangrove forest to the Integrated Coastal Resource Management site office. 

Such an awe-struck experience for us. A profound feeling of wonder and amazement  of being overwhelmed by the beauty of the mangrove forest in Ligao City.  Quite worthy of the tourism tagline  that is "Wanderful Ligao". One's "wanderlust" or desire to travel and explore will indeed intensify through various destinations and experience that can be found in Ligao.

Added to that is the inspiring feeling of knowing that Ligao City's mangrove rehabilitation showcases effective local governance, where community-driven efforts, such as those in coastal barangays with proactive and vigorous support fron City Hall, have successfully restored vital ecosystems for environmental sustainability, providing a replicable model for coastal protection and climate resilience.  This success  highlights the power of local systems to effect meaningful and impactful change for the better. 

"Our Power, Our Planet" indeed.