74,000 volunteers join int’l coastal cleanup, hundreds of thousand garbage collected
THE Philippines’ International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) drive held Saturday gathered more than 74,000 volunteers where a total of 352,479 kilograms of trash and debris were collected from the 250 coastal sites across the country.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the activity was aimed at raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems.
The 74,075 volunteers surpassed last year’s number of 35,000.
They came from 1,913 government, academe and private sector organizations who willingly made themselves available for the cleanup activity.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said that volunteers from all ages gathered at beaches, riverbanks and coastlines of the northernmost Pasuquin municipality in Ilocos Region down to the southernmost Gian town of Socksargen Region, where they meticulously collected garbage ranging from plastics to other waste materials.
“This year marks a significant milestone as the Philippines affirms its commitment to coastal cleanliness and environmental conservation,” she said.
With a theme; “Clean Seas for Blue Economy,” this year’s ICC according to Loyzaga, is not only aimed to address immediate pollution but also sought to inspire long-term behavioral changes among communities, encouraging everyone to reduce waste and participate in ongoing cleanup initiatives.
The data gathered during the cleanup will be compiled to better understand the types of waste affecting the country’s waters, ultimately guiding future conservation, waste recovery, and resource utilization strategies, while the collected trash that can be recycled will be brought to the nearest local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Previously, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pegged climate change and common trash disposal practices as the culprits of extensive flooding in Metro Manila, following the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report that typhoon Carina last month had brought about 13 landslides, causing the evacuation of more than 600,000 people, and the deaths of 14 in the country.
“Today, we witnessed an incredible outpouring of support and dedication from Filipinos who care deeply about our environment,” Loyzaga stressed.
She added; “As we celebrate the 30th year of the International Coastal Cleanup in the Philippines, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our coastal resources and promoting sustainable practices that protect our marine ecosystems.”
The International Coastal Cleanup is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the world, with over 150 participating countries and millions of volunteers each year.
The Philippines started participating in the ICC around 1994 and, in 2003, the Philippine government institutionalized the event by issuing Presidential Proclamation 470 setting ICC in the Philippines every 3rd Saturday of September.
