Dubbed “Mangrove Restoration, Coastal Cleanup, and MusiKalikasan,” the initiative took place as part of the activities for the Earth Day and Civil Society Organizations Month observance this April. 

It was organized by the Iligan City People’s Council (ICPC) in collaboration with the city government, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC), and the Santiago Barangay Council to rehabilitate the city’s coastal waters and foster environmental awareness among Iliganons.

Students from various educational institutions, together with law enforcement and military personnel, as well as representatives from national government agencies, private organizations, and other sectors, took part in the mangrove planting.

“We mobilized more than a thousand Iliganons from various organizations, formations, schools, and socio-civic groups,among others, because we want to make a statement that in Iligan we are one in taking care of our mother earth,” said ICPC chairperson Abel Moya. 

Moya also highlighted the importance of safeguarding the city by planting mangroves to mitigate the impact of disasters or calamities, particularly in light of past experiences such as Typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi) in December 2011.

Ralph Mondoñedo, a student from Barangay Bunawan, an inland community within the city, demonstrated his commitment to environmental stewardship by rising early to partake in the mangrove planting effort. For him, the act of planting mangroves holds the promise of community enhancement.

Nursing students from IMCC also echoed the importance of environmental stewardship through tree-planting initiatives.

Kylene Danielle Ong underscored that it is crucial to care not only for fellow human beings but also for the environment. She stressed that the vitality of both humanity and the environment are intricately intertwined, highlighting that a flourishing environment is essential for sustaining human life.

Kate Dianne Tingcang emphasized the pressing need to combat rising temperatures. She underscored the significance of tree planting as a practical step towards enhancing air quality and mitigating carbon emissions.

“As the saying goes, kung anong itinamin, yun din ang aanihin (what you sow is what you reap). If we put more pollution, more harm to the environment, more harm is going to come to us, but if we put more kanang mga maayo (good things) sa atong (in our) environment, mas maayo pa jud atong makuha (we will receive even better results),” she said.

The ICPC also organized an Earth Day Summit, where participants engaged in focused group discussions on environmental best practices, insights, and issues in Iligan City. Recommendations and insights were shared to address challenges and improve environmental sustainability in the city. (LELA/PIA-10 Lanao del Norte)

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But now, women are doing well in the handmade industry and showing off beautiful designs and new ideas.

The Barangay Pala-O-based Pabahandi Women’s Association is one of the 10 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) run by women that took part in the trade fair held March 3–7 at the Robinsons Place atrium by the Iligan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Incorporation (ICCIFI).

Since 2010, the women’s association has used abaca fiber to make things like bags, leis, wallets, and other things.

Adelaida Rico from the Pabahandi Women’s Association is glad to have the chance to show off their goods. From March 3–7, they earned P10,000 from the trade fair.

“Sa mga kababaihan dinhi sa Iligan City, ug unsa may livelihood nga inyong gihimo karon, padayon lang gyud. Busa hinay-hinay mu-income ra gyud ang mga kababaihan alang tabang sa atong laing-laing pamilya,” said Rico.

(To the women here in Iligan City, whatever livelihood you are pursuing now, just keep going. You will slowly earn income to help your families)

Fostering Maranao culture

Sohaila Pacalna of Marawi Souvenir Shop is proud to sell Maranao products that carry the stories of their vibrant culture and identity. She said that they continued the legacy of their ancestors to preserve their traditions and culture.

They sell baur (hand carved chests with okir motifs), brass jars, drums, gongs, tapestries, and landap (tubular woven cloth)  with langkit designs, among others. 

Pacalna thanked ICCIFI for inviting them again to sell their products. They sold P30,000 worth of products during the five-day trade fair.  

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila dahil kahit papaano na popromote ang aking product lalong-lalo na itong product namin sa Tugaya na pinaghirapan namin dahil hindi naming ito matitigil kasi ayaw naming mawala ang signatura naming pagka-Maranao,” she said. 

(I am grateful to them because my products are showcased, especially this product of ours in Tugaya that we worked hard for since we cannot stop it because we do not want to lose our Maranao signature.)

Pacalna said she is willing to teach her fellow women how to produce such products. She said that their business has helped empower the women in their communities as it provides livelihood opportunities for them. 

Women’s determination and resiliency

Reggie Punongbayan, the president of ICCIFI, praised the women entrepreneurs who kept their businesses going despite the problems caused by the pandemic for their determination, hard work, and strength. She also encouraged them not to give up since failure is a stepping stone to success.

“Kung kinsa gusto magstart ug business, dili jud mu-give up. Kining failure muhatag sa success. Because of failures, makalearn ta ug makahatag sa success sa atoa,” she said.

(Whoever wants to start a business must not give up. Failure will lead to success. Because of our failures, we can learn something that will help us attain success)

Punongbayan also highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaborations. She also reiterated their commitment to supporting MSMEs.

Handicrafts made by women show not only creativity but also grit and persistence because they are made from real materials. Truly, women’s empowerment is thriving, and their success stories prove that they can make a difference through crafts. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)

Author: Lou Ellen L. Antonio

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The said cash assistance was funded under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the Local Government of Iligan.

“Naa mi karong hapona diri sa provincial capitol para magpadala og tabang sa gikan sa City of Iligan para sa nahitabong pagbaha wherein Tubod, Lala, Baroy ang na affected,” Siao said in an interview.

(We are here this afternoon at the provincial capitol to send help from the City of Iligan for the flooding that affected Tubod, Lala, and Baroy)

The mayor also added that, as the neighboring city, it is very important to help one another, especially in times of need.

“We have a very good relation with Lanao del Norte and atong pangandoy na ato ning ipadayon na magtinabangay ang probinsya (Lanao del Norte) ug ang Iligan kay (it is our wish that the province and Iligan continue to work together because) we all belong to one province,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dimaporo expressed her gratitude to the Iligan Local Government Unit for extending help to the towns that were heavily affected. The governor was also glad that Iligan City, after many years of being separated from Lanao del Norte, reached out and gave assistance to the provincial government to rekindle the good partnership.

“Karon nga naghatag si mayor sa Lanao del Norte, nabalik ang maong pagkahiusa. This is really a very big step and hopefully magkatinabangay ra gyud mi ni Mayor ug unsa may mga activities, na ang Iligan isa ra sa Lanao del Norte,” she said.

(The mayor’s assistance to Lanao del Norte has restored the city’s unity. This is really a very big step, and hopefully, we will continue to collaborate with the mayor if there are activities, as Iligan is one with Lanao del Norte)

Former Lanao del Norte Representative Abdullah “Bobby” Dimakuta Dimaporo, Provincial Treasurer Mildred Hingco, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Achmad Taha, Abdanny Buanding, and Lyndon Abucay were also present to receive the said assistance. (PIO LDN/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)

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The BRP Davao del Sur of the Philippine Navy transported the humanitarian goods from the DSWD Central Office. These were then unloaded starting Jan. 30, with the help of the Office of Civil Defense-10 (OCD), the 4th Infantry Division, the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, the 55th Engineer Brigade, the Iligan City Police Office, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Civil Defense Community Unit of Iligan.

“These goods that arrived on Monday from the DSWD Central Office were transported one time. These were unloaded here in Iligan Port and will be temporarily housed at the DSWD-10 warehouse at Dalipuga for eventual distribution to the [disaster] victims,” said OCD-10 Regional Director and RDRRMC Chairperson Antonio Sugarol.

There are 41,788 food and non-food items that were unloaded. Of this, 33,302 are family food packs (15,000), 3,000 hygiene kits, 2,186 kitchen kits, 3,000 sleeping kits, and 300 family tents.

Martesha Maive Veloso, information officer for DSWD-10 Disaster Response Management, said 15,000 FFPs, 186 hygiene kits, and 100 sleeping kits are allotted for the Caraga region.

“The purpose of this non-food items kay para ireplenish ang relief goods nga gipang apod-apod niadtong sunod-sunod na shearline ug trough of LPA,” she said.

(The purpose of these non-food items is to replenish the relief goods that were distributed for the families affected by the shearline and trough of LPA)

DSWD will also preposition relief goods at the local level to ensure that there are supplies that can be readily and easily accessed upon the occurrence of disasters. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)

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“Initial muna ito. We will expand this and will go further. Marami pa kaming nareceive na information from those sari-sari stores covered by this operation,” he said.

(This is just the beginning. We will expand on this and go further. We have received a lot of information from the various stores covered by this operation)

BIR Iligan Revenue District Officer Amanoding Esmail also looks forward to future collaborations with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and media partners in identifying the distributor, supplier, or manufacturer of illicit cigarettes.

“This is a continuing activity. This may be the start of our collaboration between BIR, media people and PNP para habulin ang taong nagbebenta but ang priority natin is ‘yung supplier, distributor o manufacturer (to look after the sellers but our priority is the supplier, distributor or manufacturer),” he said.

BIR started this nationwide campaign to get rid of illegal cigarette sellers, who cost the government between P50 billion and P100 billion in tax money. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)

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