Lian, Batangas – May 30, 2026 — Grounded in a shared commitment to community resilience and environmental stewardship, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. – One to Tree (RAFI OTT), in partnership with the ICTSI Foundation and with support from the provincial local government (PLGU) of Batangas, the municipal local government unit of Lian, Batangas and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR CENRO) Calaca, led a ceremonial mangrove planting activity in Barangay Binubusan, planting 2,000 mangrove seedlings along the town’s coastal area. Now on its second project with ICTSI Foundation, this initiative highlights a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and community resilience, bringing together public and private sector partners alongside local stakeholders. At the center of the effort is the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Binubusan (SMMB), the project’s primary community partner. Around 40 members from SMMB, along with participants from the Lian Fisherfolk Association (LFA), are actively engaged as co-implementers, supporting seedling production and plantation establishment and maintenance activities. To strengthen local capacity, community members have undergone hands-on training in plantation design, nursery establishment, seedling production, site preparation, and maintenance. These are complemented by sustainability planning initiatives aimed at fostering long-term livelihood opportunities and strengthening organizational resilience. The ceremonial planting brought together key representatives from partner organizations, including Mr. Francis J.G. Bartolome, Program Operations Manager of ICTSI Foundation; Ms. Marian Cabarrus-Aboitiz, member of the RAFI Board of Trustees; and Ms. Amaya Cristina A. Fansler, President and CEO of RAFI. They were joined by representatives from Bauan International Port, Inc. (BIPI), an ICTSI subsidiary, as well as volunteers from ICTSI’s suppliers. Also present were officials from the local government of Lian and partner government agencies, including Ms. Ma. Sherylyn Barot, Senior Environmental Management Specialist of the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) Batangas; Mr. Jo Evenson Bernas of the (DENR-CENRO) Calaca; Mr. Ronel Agkis of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Lian; and Mr. Herminio Gonzaga, president of SMMB. This collective effort unites RAFI One to Tree, ICTSI Foundation, SMMB, and local government partners in a shared mission to restore coastal ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods, and build long-term resilience in vulnerable coastal communities. 🌱 Join us in restoring our coasts—be part of our next mangrove planting initiatives. By supporting RAFI One to Tree, you help protect vital coastal ecosystems while empowering the communities that care for them.
