Around 45 would-be couples have been required to join a mangrove protection activity here as a requisite before their marriage in a mass wedding by the city government on August 1.

In a statement Thursday, the City Information Office (CIO) said the couples who are about to take their vows before Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada have undergone a daylong mangrove planting activity on Wednesday in Barangay Babag.

“The couples are set to avail of the free solemnization of their marriages on August 1, in time with the celebration of ‘Adlaw Hong Butuan’ or the Butuan Charter Day,” the CIO said.

The mass civil wedding is among the highlights of the Charter Day celebration dubbed as “Kasal Ngani Butuan” led by the Office of the City Civil Registrar.

The CIO said aside from its vital role as an ecosystem that maintains the environment, mangroves also provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and social benefits.

It added that 160 mangrove seedlings were planted during the activity that would serve as protective barriers against storms, coastal erosion, and tsunamis, ensuring the safety of residents in coastal communities of the city.

The mangrove planting activity, the CIO said, will also help the city government raise awareness in safeguarding valuable coastal ecosystems.

Officials of Barangay Babag thanked the city government for prioritizing environmental awareness in the implementation of its programs. (PNA)