Green Party of the Philippines Joins BARMM’s Historic Multi-Stakeholder Mangrove Planting for World Mangrove Day 2025

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Cotabato City, Philippines — July 26, 2025. 

On the shores of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where land meets sea and tradition meets the tides, a remarkable act of unity unfolded for the planet’s future. The Green Party of the Philippines (GPP), led by its officers who traveled from Manila, stood shoulder to shoulder with local leaders, youth, and civil society in a massive, simultaneous mangrove planting to mark World Mangrove Day 2025.

From Cotabato to Tawi-Tawi, the region pulsed with collective action as over 10,000 mangrove seedlings were planted and potted across key coastal municipalities. This was no ordinary tree-planting ceremony—it was an organized, region-wide environmental mobilization under the banner: “Bayanihan para sa Bakawan: A Collective Act for Climate and Coastal Resilience in BARMM.”

Representing the Green Party of the Philippines at the lead site in Cotabato City’s Mangrove Nursery in Brgy. Kalanganan 2 were:

David D’Angelo, Chairman

Jeph Ramos, President

Ross Flores Del Rosario, External Vice President

Reach Penaflor, Auditor

Ranne Tubig, Communications Officer

Also there at BARMM is our Internal Vice President, Emmie Cordero 

Their presence sent a powerful message: environmental stewardship knows no boundaries, and the call for climate action must be answered by all.

A Symbol of Unity and Survival

Mangroves, often called the “guardians of the coast,” are vital for both biodiversity and human resilience. In the face of rising sea levels, storm surges, and the loss of marine habitats, these coastal sentinels offer protection, livelihood, and hope.

“It’s not just about planting trees,” said Danny Mocsin, Chairperson of Kutawato Greenland Initiatives, Inc. (KGI), the event’s lead organizer. “This simultaneous planting across the Bangsamoro is more than symbolic—it’s strategic. Mangroves are our first line of defense against climate threats. By working together, we’re building both ecological and community resilience.”

An Army of Planters for the Planet

The mangrove planting was made possible through the cooperation of multiple stakeholders, including MENRE-BARMM, the City Government of Cotabato, local government units, youth groups, civil society organizations, and law enforcement agencies. Support also came from The Asia Foundation under Project WEAVE, through the InFoRCE PEACE IN BARMM Project.

Planting sites included:

Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte – Brgy. Simuay Seashore

Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte – Brgy. Sambolawan

Parang, Maguindanao del Norte – Brgy. Making

Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte – Brgy. Linuk

Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Sur – Brgy. Penansaran

Malabang, Lanao del Sur – Brgy. Tambara

Maluso, Basilan – Brgy. Taberlongan

Bongao, Tawi-Tawi – Brgy. Mandulan (Sitio Langbus)

In each of these coastal communities, volunteers—some seasoned environmentalists, others young first-timers—braved the mud, sun, and saltwater to plant mangroves. Their hands, covered in soil, carried the weight of a shared responsibility for the future.

The Green Party’s Commitment

For Ross Flores Del Rosario, Wazzup Pilipinas founder and External Vice President of GPP, the event was more than a symbolic gesture—it was a reaffirmation of the party’s mission.

“Planting mangroves is planting life,” Del Rosario shared. “This is grassroots action at its purest form. BARMM’s commitment to ecological restoration inspires us to work harder in uniting communities for climate resilience.”

The GPP emphasized that its involvement in BARMM’s mangrove initiative is part of a broader commitment to nationwide environmental advocacy, ensuring that local efforts are amplified and connected to global sustainability goals.

Hope for the Next Generation

One of the most touching moments was seeing young participants wade into the waters, carrying seedlings almost as tall as themselves. Their laughter mingled with the sound of waves, a reminder that the fight for the environment is not just for today’s leaders—it is for them.

As the day ended, the sun dipped over the Mindanao horizon, casting golden light over rows of freshly planted mangroves. They stood like sentinels in the shallows—small for now, but destined to grow into mighty defenders of the coast.

In BARMM, World Mangrove Day 2025 was more than a celebration—it was a promise. A promise to the earth, to the seas, and to the generations yet to come, that the people of Mindanao, together with their partners nationwide, will continue to plant hope where the tides meet the land.

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