Thanks to 65-year-old Yolanda survivor Gary Dabansol, his village in Matalom, Leyte has added protection against storm surges — 10,000 mangrove trees that he planted all by himself.
A frequent visitor to Matalom beach, Dan Niez from nearby Hilongos town, was so astounded by the giant verdant patch, he posted it on Facebook, getting roughly 3,000 shares and nearly 4,000 likes.
Dabasol, Tatay gary to his neighbors, said Yolanda taught him a lesson to always prepare for natural disasters.
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Aside from using mangroves as protection from killer waves, he also intended for the site to become a breeding ground for fish as a source of livelihood and food.
Get to know Tatay Gary more by watching this video: