DENR MIMAROPA mobilizes 11k volunteers; collects 26 tons of trash on Int’l Coastal Cleanup Day.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in MIMAROPA gathered together 11,790 volunteers who collected 26,168.3 kilos of marine litter from 55 coastal areas across the region on International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, September 16.

Anchored on the theme, “Clean Seas for Healthy Fisheries,” the simultaneous cleanup activity was made possible through the strengthened collaboration of the DENR field offices in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, and various agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, the academe, and the religious, private and business sectors.
DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Felix Mirasol, Jr., extends his gratitude to the volunteers and partner groups, whose staunch support helped the agency fulfill its mission to protect and take care of the environment.

 

“The number of volunteers who showed up as early as 5:00 in the morning speaks of the heightened level of awareness on the shared responsibility to take care of our seas. The ICC is one way of reminding everybody of the endeavor to free the seas from litter, and be more mindful on proper waste management and disposal,” the Director stated.

International Coastal Cleanup is an international movement initiated by The Ocean Conservancy (TOC) in 1986. It aims to rally together communities to collect and document trash that litter the coastline. In the Philippines, Proclamation No. 470, s. 2003, designated the third Saturday in September as ICC Day to remind the Filipinos to stay vigilant in the crusade to free the oceans from trash and debris.

 

(With photos and reports from DENR MIMAROPA field offices and Information Officers)