IF, SCIPSI back Sarangani mangrove restoration

The signatories present (from left) are Cirilo Lagnason Jr., protected area superintendent; For. Shalimar Disomangcop, PENR officer-Sarangani; Engr. Mama Samaon, DENR assistant regional director for technical services – Region XII; Filipina Laurena, ICTSI Foundation executive director; Gabriel Muñasque, SCIPSI general manager; Francis Bartolome, IF program operations manager; and Joy Ologuin, CENR officer DENR 12- CENRO Glan.

The ICTSI Foundation (IF) and South Cotabato Integrated Port Services Inc. (SCIPSI) formalized a partnership with the Protected Area Management Board of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (PAMB-SBPS) through a memorandum of agreement signed on November 21, 2025. The partnership encompasses a three-year mangrove restoration project beginning December.

The project covers 12.52 hectares in the municipalities of Malapatan and Glan in Sarangani Province where 125,200 mangrove seedlings will be grown. IF and PAMB-SBPS will work with local organizations on seedling production, planting, and site maintenance.

On the same day of the signing, volunteers from the IF and SCIPSI joined a mangrove planting activity in Malapatan organized by the Philippine Science High School SOCSARGEN Campus. IF provided 600 mangrove seedlings for the activity, which brought together students, community members, local government representatives, and private partners.