CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — More than 1,700 volunteers across Central Luzon collected over 75,000 kilograms of waste from participating coastal areas as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its partners called for sustained community action to keep marine and coastal ecosystems clean.
Volunteers from national government agencies, local government units, the academe, uniformed services, non-government organizations, private groups, and local communities joined this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), held under the theme “Clean Seas for Resilient Communities.”
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the annual activity is not only about removing waste from shorelines but also about documenting the types of garbage collected, providing communities and stakeholders with information that can guide efforts to address marine litter.
“Initial findings showed that plastic bags, food wrappers, diapers, clothes, and foam pieces were among the most common types of waste collected during the cleanup, reaching more than 75,000 kilograms of waste collected across the participating areas,” Pablo reported.
The findings highlight the continuing need for communities and institutions to work together to reduce waste at its source and prevent garbage from being carried into waterways and coastal areas.
Pablo said keeping these areas free from waste is important in protecting ecosystems and supporting communities that depend on healthy coastal and marine resources for their livelihoods and daily needs.
“Preventing waste from reaching rivers, estuaries, and seas requires sustained action, including responsible waste disposal, waste reduction, and the participation of communities and other stakeholders,” he said.
Community participation in the ICC provides an avenue for residents and various sectors to contribute directly to environmental protection while strengthening public awareness of the impacts of improper waste disposal.
In Central Luzon, the participation of government institutions, local communities, schools, businesses, civil society groups, and other organizations demonstrates the shared responsibility needed to address marine litter and protect natural resources.
The Philippines has been among the active participants in the ICC, a global initiative that raises awareness about marine litter and encourages communities to take action to protect oceans and waterways.
The activity supports the broader environmental protection and sustainable resource management efforts being pursued under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., particularly through community participation and collaboration among government agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders.
Initiated by the US-based environmental organization Ocean Conservancy in 1986, the ICC continues to provide communities around the world with an avenue to participate in efforts to keep coastal and marine environments clean.
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