Environment Secretary Gina Lopez has called for the country to undertake massive planting of mangroves and bamboo to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. In a statement delivered at the Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, Lopez said there is a need for more mangroves because the islands without mangroves suffered 80 percent damage in terms of lives and property due to typhoons and calamities that hit the country. “This thrust will not only save our islands but will result in economic zones because of the resultant increase in fish, shrimps and other sea life. If handled well, our people can get out of poverty,” she added.

Villanueva, R. (2016, November 19). DENR calls for mangrove, bamboo planting. The Philippine Star, p. 3.