Wanting to raise public awareness on the need to conserve its mangroves, the Del Carmen town on Siargao Islands, in Surigao del Norte, recently organized a fun run, which was participated in by residents and visitors, and supported by the public and private sectors, including Philex Mining Corp. and its Silangan project.

Dubbed •€œSiargao It Up Mangrove Run,•€ the event attracted over 2,000 participants and was held Nov. 15 parallel to the inauguration of the Mangrove Protection and Information Center, which, according to Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II, serves as the first-stop for the visitors wanting to tour the island as it houses all the information needed by a tourist.

  • €œWith the inauguration of this tourist information center, the plans we have envisioned for Del Carmen won•€™t be for naught,•€ Mr. Coro said. •€œWe hope for the tourists and the public to be more aware of our mangrove conservation efforts through this center. We also are humbled by the overwhelming support from our partners.•€

Runners pose for a souvenir photo on the Silangan ng Karunungan stage, Numancia Central Elementary School | BSE

 

 

 

 

        Besides Philex Mining and its subsidiary, Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. (SMMCI), in Surigao del Norte, the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) also helped in the construction of the mangrove center. MPIC is the Philippine-based investment unit of the First Pacific Co Ltd, Philex Mining•€™s parent company.

The MPIC had also partnered with the LGU of Del Carmen for the fun run, which aimed to garner support for the preservation of Siargao•€™s 8,600-hectare mangrove forest. The event was followed by a music fest enlivened by one foreign and two local DJs courtesy of Bibo Lifestyle, a PR consultancy.

Noted for its lush greenery, Siargao was last year declared as a protected area by the Philippine Senate. Situated 800 kilometers southwest of Manila, Siargao is also kown as the country•€™s surfing capital due to its reef wave.