25/04/2026
ZSL 200 Celebration: Meet the Breakwaters of Pedada, Ajuy, Iloilo
As part of the ZSL 200 Celebration, we highlight a powerful example of nature‑based solutions supported by smart engineering—the breakwaters of Pedada, Ajuy, Iloilo.
Constructed in 2010, the breakwaters reversed severe coastal erosion through enhanced sediment accretion, with elevation gains reaching up to 150 cm by 2025. After sediment stabilization, mangrove planting of 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘢 (pagatpat) in 2012 succeeded, followed by natural recruitment of 𝘚. 𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘢 and 𝘈𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢 (bungalon), now reaching 15–25 ft.
These outcomes demonstrate how well‑designed coastal engineering interventions can create the conditions necessary for mangrove recovery, even in highly eroded coastal environments—an inspiring lesson aligned with the vision and legacy of .
