BAUANG, Nov. 27 -- The 152-hectare mangrove eco-tourism park in this town serves as a natural barrier against storm-surge flooding for nearby residential communities and also provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for residents.

Jayjay Tejada, 35, a resident of Barangay Parian Oeste, said they used to experience knee-level flooding, especially during a storm surge due to weather disturbance.

"Hindi na kami binabaha ngayon kahit yong last na super typhoon di kami nabaha (We do not experience flooding now, even with the last super typhoon (Uwan, international name Fung-wong) we were not flooded)," he said.

Doris Marie Bambao, environmental management specialist of Bauang town, in an interview on Thursday, said the mangroves are th...