Jomalig coastal shield grows with 98-hectare mangrove recovery

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino Volunteers plant mangrove seedlings to restore coastal forests and strengthen natural storm protection in Jom...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino

Volunteers plant mangrove seedlings to restore coastal forests and strengthen natural storm protection in Jomalig, Quezon. (Science Department)

JOMALIG, Quezon - Across Quezon’s extensive shoreline, the condition of mangrove forests carries major consequences for public safety, municipal fisheries and marine biodiversity. In Jomalig, DENR-Calabarzon has rehabilitated nearly 98 hectares of typhoon-damaged mangroves in Barangay Talisoy, rebuilding an important coastal barrier for the island municipality.

Jomalig recorded 7,884 residents across five barangays in the 2024 population census, making it the least populated municipality in Quezon and Calabarzon. Barangay Talisoy remained its largest community with 3,212 residents, representing more than 40 percent of the municipality’s population.



Jomalig is the easternmost island municipality in the Polillo Island Group, leaving its communities exposed to typhoons and rough seas from the Pacific Ocean. DENR-Calabarzon highlighted this geographic exposure in an official Facebook post released on July 4 detailing the rehabilitation.

“Nature has its own built-in shield against the strongest storms, and in Jomalig, Quezon, that shield is growing stronger every day: the mangrove forest,” DENR-Calabarzon said.

Rehabilitation drew support from the National Greening Program, the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, and the Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project. Established at different stages, the initiatives cover nationwide reforestation, post-Yolanda reconstruction and focused development of mangrove and beach forests.

DENR attributed the progress in Jomalig to sustained conservation work implemented through the three government programs over several years. The agency said their coordinated implementation addressed both the physical damage suffered by the mangroves and the wider environmental protection needs of the island municipality.

“These initiatives helped restore vital coastal ecosystems, strengthen natural defenses against storm surges, and support biodiversity conservation in the municipality,” DENR said.

Interlocking mangrove roots stabilize loose coastal soil and reduce erosion by slowing water movement along vulnerable shorelines. Beneath the water, the same root systems provide breeding and nursery grounds where juvenile fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic organisms can feed and develop.

Fallen mangrove leaves decompose into organic matter that supplies nutrients to smaller organisms and supports the wider coastal food chain. These ecological functions help maintain fishery resources used by families whose income and food supply depend on productive municipal waters.

Mangroves also function as blue-carbon ecosystems by storing carbon in their vegetation and waterlogged soils for extended periods. Research published in Nature Geoscience identified mangroves among the most carbon-rich tropical forests, connecting their protection to climate-change mitigation as well as coastal conservation.

Nature-based defenses can also complement seawalls, breakwaters and other engineered structures when projects are designed for suitable coastal conditions. A comparative PLOS ONE study found that mangrove and salt-marsh projects can cost less than submerged breakwaters under certain wave conditions, although their effectiveness depends on location and site characteristics.

Jomalig’s restoration therefore forms part of a wider climate-adaptation approach as coastal communities confront sea-level rise, erosion and recurring tropical cyclones. A separate global assessment found that mangroves are well positioned to help vulnerable coastal populations cope with present weather extremes and future climate pressures.

The rehabilitation carries broader significance in Quezon, where 34 cities and municipalities are situated along approximately 1,066.36 kilometers of coastline. These coastal areas surround productive fishing grounds in Lamon Bay, Tayabas Bay and Ragay Gulf that provide income for thousands of fisherfolk.

National environmental laws protect mangrove forests against activities that destroy their vegetation or permanently alter coastal ecosystems. Presidential Decree 705 safeguards shoreline mangrove strips, while Republic Act 8550 prohibits their conversion into fishponds or areas intended for other uses.

Stronger enforcement by environmental agencies and local governments has helped curb mangrove cutting for charcoal production and fishpond expansion across many parts of Quezon. Sustained protection and science-based management in Barangay Talisoy remain necessary to preserve the 98 hectares recovered through years of government rehabilitation.