Cleanup in CV collects 75 tons of trash

CEBU, Philippines -  Around 75 tons of trash was collected in simultaneous cleanup drives led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 all over the region on September 20 in celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day.

Through the simultaneous cleanup drive along shorelines and riverbanks, it showed that most of the trash collected were plastics, diapers, napkins, cigarettes, plastic bottles and caps, grocery bags, trash clothes and candy wrappers.

More than 15,000 volunteers from all DENR-7 offices, along with personnel from 29 local government units, 20 government agencies, six universities and non-government agencies and other stakeholders gathered for the ICC Day.

According to DENR-7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo, ICC is a global event observed by almost all countries every year since 1986. Its aim is to engage all citizens to remove trash and debris from all beaches and waterways and promote awareness on marine and coastal environment protection.

“Marine debris and the increasing number of trash that goes to our seas every day is a serious and worsening problem not only here in the country but worldwide, so I urge everyone not only those who are living near our coasts but everyone to participate and take action to help,” Montejo said.

The Philippines has consistently been one of the top participating countries in the ICC in terms of the number of volunteers which usually come from LGUs, government offices, the academe, business sector and civic groups.

The ICC Day was first held in Texas, United States in 1986. In the Philippines, Presidential Proclamation (PP) No. 244 was issued in 1993 declaring September every year as the National Cleanup Month. This was followed by PP470 issued in 2003, designating every third Saturday of September as ICC Day.

In Cebu, the successful cleanup activity was conducted in Day-as Cordova, Tulic Argao, San Remigio, Talisay City, Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Poblacion Balamban, Barili, Toledo and Tuburan. In Bohol province, the activity was done in Inabanga, Buenavista, Getafe, Trinidad, Ubay, Mabini, Candijay, Guindulman, Bien-Unido, San Pedro, Talibon and Carlos P. Garcia.

In Negros Oriental, all coastal barangays participated in the cleanup drive while in Siquijor, personnel from DENR and the National Statistics Commission and Siquijor State University students cleaned the coasts of Barangay Kanal.

“More than just a celebration of the ICC Day, we urge everyone to be one with us in protecting our shores and seas, next year we hope we can once again gather as many volunteers as we can,” said Montejo. (FREEMAN)