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

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

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.

Stop Working for Free: The Harsh Truth Bloggers and Influencers Need to Hear NOW

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

It’s time to shatter the silence and normalize the question: “Will this be paid?”

No more tiptoeing around it. No more treating it like a shameful whisper. In an industry built on creativity, influence, and reach, compensation is not a luxury—it’s a right.

Every photo taken, every word written, every post shared carries weight. That’s VALUE—whether you measure it in PR worth, media mileage, or sheer audience impact. And value demands fair exchange. Passion fuels the craft, yes. Relationships keep it alive, sure. But passion doesn’t pay for gas, relationships don’t cover internet bills, and goodwill won’t buy the editing tools that turn raw footage into magic.

We are not hobbyists playing pretend—we are professionals whose work shapes brands, builds communities, and drives results. If the system is broken, we fix it—by asking, by asserting, by refusing to be taken for granted. Boycott those who exploit. Stand with those who respect. Demand with grace, and know when to walk away.

The culture will only change if we put our strength into it. You get what you negotiate. If you believe you deserve more—ASK. And if they say no? Smile, turn away, and make space for the ones who see your worth.

Morong, Rizal and Mambajao, Camiguin Make Emergency Response History with First-Ever Social Media 911 Calls in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a nation where instant communication has become second nature, two trailblazing towns have just redefined how emergencies are reported and responded to. Residents and visitors of Morong, Rizal and Mambajao, Camiguin can now do something never before possible in the Philippines—call for help through Facebook Messenger.

This landmark transformation comes through NGA 911 Philippines’ NEXiS Message platform, a cutting-edge system that merges modern social media convenience with world-class emergency response technology. For the first time, people in these communities can send voice calls, text messages, photos, and videos directly to their 911 command centers—all through an app they already use every day.

And this isn’t just about speed. It’s about security, privacy, and life-saving efficiency.

From Scattered Signals to a Single Lifeline

Before this innovation, calling for help online was risky. Sharing names, addresses, and urgent details on public domains or unsecured apps left citizens vulnerable, while emergency responders had to juggle multiple platforms with no central hub—slowing down the very process designed to save lives.

Now, thanks to NEXiS Message, every emergency call and message is funneled into a single, secure, and fully encrypted platform. No more scattered alerts, no more monitoring a dozen apps at once—every distress signal lands where it needs to, instantly.

“Built on NGA 911’s robust cybersecurity protocols, messages sent through NEXiS are fully encrypted. This ensures that all information – including photos, videos, and files – is protected,” said Robert Llaguno, NGA 911 Philippines’ Country Head.

The result? A streamlined lifeline where every second counts and every detail—whether it’s a photo of a road accident, a video of a flood, or a real-time location pin—is captured and preserved for immediate action.

Making Emergency Calls Citizen-Friendly

This leap forward isn’t just technological—it’s human. For many Filipinos, messaging apps like Facebook Messenger are the primary mode of communication. By meeting people where they already are, NGA 911 has made it easier for citizens to seek help in a way that feels natural and familiar.

“Citizens can now use their familiar messaging apps to report emergencies. They are assured that all their messages will be safely routed to the LGU's NEXiS Message platform so they are received quickly and handled with the highest level of security,” Llaguno explained.

The system also supports video calls, group chats, SMS, and even mapping tools, giving responders the clearest possible picture of any situation. This means faster deployment, better coordination between agencies, and more lives saved.

A Glimpse of the Future—Now in the Philippines

NEXiS Message is cloud-native, designed to integrate seamlessly with both legacy systems and next-generation communication tools. It fosters inter-agency collaboration, allowing multiple departments to share critical data in real time.

“This is the future of emergency response that is enjoyed by developed countries all over the world—and it is now in the Philippines,” Llaguno declared.

For Morong and Mambajao, this is more than an upgrade. It’s a declaration that innovation and safety can go hand in hand, and that even smaller towns can set the standard for the nation.

Beyond Two Towns—A National Vision

While this revolutionary system is now live in Morong and Mambajao, NGA 911 Philippines is working with more LGUs and institutions to expand its reach. The vision? A country where every barangay, town, and city can make a 911 call from the palm of their hand—securely, instantly, and through the apps Filipinos trust most.

In the not-so-distant future, a farmer in the provinces, a tourist on an island, or a commuter in the city could summon emergency help just as easily as sending a chat to a friend.

Because in moments of crisis, the best technology is the one you already know how to use—and now, it could be the one that saves your life.