SASMUAN, Pampanga – The local government of Sasmuan and Hann Foundation Inc. (HFI) officially signed a memorandum of agreement for a mangrove conservation and restoration project amounting to P5 million in this coastal town.
The project dubbed as Sasmuan BakaOne Project highlights a sustainable mangrove conservation and restoration initiative—through a multi-sectoral partnership.
The funding support of ₱5 million was donated by the Hann Foundation in partnership with the Municipal Government of Sasmuan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Project BakaOne, according to HFI General Manager Ron Golimlim, is focused on mangrove rehabilitation, shoreline protection, and community-driven conservation efforts.
For her part, Sasmuan Mayor Lina Cabrera said Sasmuan is home to the Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, a designated Ramsar Site—part of the Philippines’ Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Cabrera said Sasmuan is recognized as the 8th Ramsar Site in the country and 1st in Central Luzon for its role in supporting biodiversity, particularly migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Accordingly, the BakaOne project is the adoption of mangrove engineering through bamboo earthdike construction which solution includes planting of various mangrove species along a 1.65-kilometer shoreline to stop erosion; using biodegradable sacks, supportive rock berms, and bakau wood poles to protect shorelines and reduce wave energy; reintroducing 6,000 to 8,000 mangrove saplings to encourage natural regeneration; and employing techniques that strengthen the coastline while maintaining ecological integrity.
The project emphasizes conservation, restoration, and inclusive stewardship, involving local communities and promoting a strong public-private partnership model.
Through this initiative, Cabrera vowed to continue the LGU’s role as a model site for wetland protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable ecotourism in the country.
She also thanked Hann Foundation for choosing Sasmuan for this project which will boost economic, environment, and tourism impact of this town.
