Last Monday, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) held a mangrove restoration project at the City of Alaminos, Pangasinan, following the company’s tradition of marking its anniversary date via a meaningful tribute to the environment.

On the same day though, it seemed that Mother Nature herself was in a foul mood, perhaps unmindful of the car company’s meaningful "date" to honor her. Instead of welcoming Isuzu’s "green warriors," she brought about torrential heavy rains and flooding through her "agent" – tropical depression "Henry."

The 20 motoring journalists who decided to participate in the event however still went along for the ride to Pangasinan, with IPC president Yoshifumi Komura and with the support of the local government unit of Alaminos, Pangasinan under Mayor Hernani "Nani" Braganza. The mangrove restoration project, the first for the City of Alaminos, was in line with the 9th anniversary celebration of IPC.

The participants braved the heavy downpour and rushed through flooded waters for a noble cause – planting mangroves on the coastal waters of the world renowned Hundred Islands.

In several areas of Tarlac and Pampanga, the group met cascading flood waters. Heavy rains resulted to poor visibility but they were not enough to stop the Isuzu fleet of vehicles – Alterra SUV, D-Max pickups and Sportivo AUVs – from proceeding to the target area.

Finally though, Lady Luck intervened because when the group reached its destination, the rains suddenly stopped.

Braganza, a former student activist in his college days who later became a member of the House of Representatives, welcomed the group.

"We are very thankful for Isuzu Philippines Corporation because it is the first private entity to sponsor our mangrove rehabilitation program," Braganza said.

According to Braganza, who is still in his first term as town executive of Alaminos, for every hectare of mangrove planted in their coastal area, it will be equal to one ton of mangrove fish products every year. The IPC donated five hectares of mangrove seedlings that were planted in Barangay Sabangan where some 800 families will protect them.

Victor Ancheta of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 1 pointed out the importance of mangroves to the ecological balance. Among these are: Protection against erosion and storm surges, providing a home to marine creatures, serving as filters against waste materials from river channels, among others. Ancheta represented DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes whose helicopter failed to take off from Manila because of the inclement weather.

Also present during the ceremonies were Martin Valera of the Department of Tourism Region 1, Alaminos Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr., and City Administrator retired Colonel Wilmer Panabang.

To witness the occasion, personnel of the DENR regional office, Sangguniang Bayan and even the Rotarians of Alaminos came in full force.

During the past decades, environmental degradation and fish pen conversions wiped out more than 600 hectare of mangroves in Alaminos coastal barangays. Under Braganza’s priority programs, he is eyeing the restoration of at least 70 hectares and IPC took care of five hectares under its "Save our Mangroves" campaign.

IPC’s mangrove restoration program also signaled Alaminos’ full commitment in protecting its marine resources.

In 1992, President Ramos and a selected group of scuba divers initiated the planting of giant clams in the Hundred Islands. The giant clams, which were then nurtured in Bolinao town, Pangasinan, now number to about 7,000 and have become a major tourist attraction.

"Mangroves are especially important to preserving the health and beauty of the Hundred Islands. This is why we are here to donate seedlings to restore the physical condition of five hectares of mangroves," Komura said, adding that mangrove rehabilitation is fast becoming a popular corporate activity in Japan.

For his part, IPC vice president for corporate business Art Balmadrid, said that the mangrove project is also part of their corporate social responsibility in promoting S.E.E. or Safety, Economy and Environment-friendliness.

After the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement for the mangrove campaign, Braganza and Komura led the group to the seedling site at Barangay Sabangan on board motorized bancas.