Around E. Visayas 10T people join coastal cleanup

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines —– At least 10,000 people participated in the simultaneous coastal clean-up all over Eastern Visayas  region, as organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 8 yesterday.

DENR-8  Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca  told reporters his office, through the Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service and in coordination with the local government units in the region has mobilized coastal communities and other volunteers to participate in the annual event.

Various government agencies, non-government organizations, civic groups, private organizations, other stakeholders and ordinary citizens have also joined the massive cleanup, he said.

Sibbaluca said the coastal clean-up was in line with the annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day,  or  every 3rd Saturday  of  September, declared via Presidential Proclamation No. 470 signed by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The event would “remind and re-awaken our people for vigilance in support of the continuing crusade against the debris crises all over the world—a united front for all ‘citizens of the world’ to keep Mother Earth clean,” he said.

Sibbaluca said all the debris collected along the coastlines shall be sorted and listed using the ICC Data Card, which shall then be submitted by the DENR-8 to the Biodiversity Management Bureau and later to the ICC-Philippines Coordinator and Ocean Conservancy.

The ICC is the largest volunteer effort for ocean’s health where  people around the world gather on beaches, coasts, rivers, waterways and underwater dive sites to remove trash and record information on the debris collected.

Results will aid in better waste management policies or plans, product packaging designs and environmental consciousness among the people, he added.  (FREEMAN)