International Coastal Clean-up Day is an annual celebration across 100 countries. Officially commemorated on the 3rd Saturday of September, it has been a yearly celebration since 1986. On this day, hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world descend on beaches, lakes, rivers, and streams, removing trash and other debris in an effort to restore and maintain marine life.
Spearheaded by The Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization based in the United States, the project aims to educate the public on marine debris issues and to reduce debris in waterways and enhance aquatic environs.
Intel Philippines first joined this global celebration in 2001. Today, Intel’s employee volunteer group Intel Involved in the Community is counted among the largest groups in the international clean-up effort.
Central to Intel’s mantra of being an asset to the community is its employee-volunteer corps. Intel Philippines boasts of the highest employee participation rate among Intel sites all over the world. In 2005, there were some 300 volunteers, an impressive 79 percent participation rate.
What makes Intel employees go all out for volunteerism? Says Rene del Rosario, an active volunteer, "I believe I have found my spot in the world with my volunteer work." Rene heads the Marketing and Communications team, and during the Coastal Clean-up, he was very busy taking photographs of the many goings-on.
Robert Balois, a member of the Intel Involved Environment Team, shares Rene’s sentiment. "Intel is a big company and being a volunteer lets us know our co-employees. Intel Involved is our extended family."
Another member of the Environment Team, Tess Dima-pilis, says volunteerism, especially during International Coastal Clean-up Day, is her way of doing her bit to keep the environment in tiptop shape. "Who else will take care of Mother Nature but us?"
"I enjoy doing volunteer work," adds Rogel Serafico, fellow Environment Team member.
Coordinating with local government agencies and preparing the logistics is no joke, what with regular work demanding time and attention, as well. But, says Nancy Rol of Intel’s Environment, Health and Safety team, volunteer work is not an add-on, rather it enhances one’s job. "Helping coordinate the Coastal Clean-up was a challenge. But it was fun, too! I get to do tasks other than those that I usually do. I learn a lot, as well."
Unity and cooperation was the order of the celebration this year as new players like Analog Devices, Cypress Manufacturing, and San Miguel Corporation, among others, pitched in. Employees from these companies zealously cleaned the area alongside Intel and government volunteers.
The event was attended by local municipal officials led by Mayor Luis Ferrer IV. Intel managers from international Intel sites like Gary Niekerk (CSR manager, Intel Corporation), Sindhu Cauveriappa (Community Relations Manager, Intel India), and Tom Cooper (Water/Wastewater/Groundwater Programs, Global Operations Support) also joined in.
Coastal Clean-up celebrations started with a short program, followed by the actual clean-up. Intel Public Affair’s Community Relations Manager, Chona Ignalaga, expressed her elation at the big turn-out of participants, especially those from other companies. "At last, Intel is not alone in this."
Mayor Ferrer lauded Intel’s pioneering effort in convincing other industrial locators to adopt social responsibility programs. "From Intel alone in the past, we have 10 other private companies participating here today."
Vice Mayor Campaña cited the pristine state of the Bacao River during his parents’ time. He shared, "Bacao River was a place where our grandparents and parents washed their clothes and bathed. It was a source of drinking water for our animals and irrigation for our farms as well. So let us be vigilant in protecting our river so that our children may enjoy its blessings as well."