Coastal cleanup in PH collects over 350,000 kilos of trash, says DENR

The International Coastal Cleanup activity on Saturday, September 21, 2024, collects more than 350,000 kilograms of trash and gathers more than 70,000 volunteers. according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. DENR Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Solid wastes amounting to 352, 479 kilograms were collected from various shorelines from Ilocos to Socksargen in time for the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), which gathered a record-breaking 74,075 volunteers this year.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the activity on Saturday, September 21, is part of its advocacy to raise awareness regarding the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems.

The number of people who volunteered to rid Philippine beaches and riverbanks of garbage this year was way more than the 35,000 who took part in 2023. The volunteers were from different government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector organizations.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said this year’s coastal cleanup is a “significant milestone as the Philippines affirms its commitment to coastal cleanliness and environmental conservation.”

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“With the ICC 2024 theme, ‘Clean Seas for Blue Economy’, this year’s cleanup 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 clean-up initiatives,” she said.

The ICC, which began more than 35 years ago, is being participated by over 150 countries. It has gathered at least 18 million volunteers and managed to collect more than 380 million pounds of trash since its launch.

The Philippines joined the global initiative in 1994 and has institutionalized its participation to the activity via Presidential Proclamation No. 470, which states that a nationwide coastal cleanup be conducted yearly on September 3.

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According to the DENR, garbage collected during the cleanup are brought to the nearest Materials Recovery Facility. It added that data gathered during the activity will be used to further study and understand the types of wastes affecting the country’s waters. The study would then be utilized to come up with an effective plan for conservation and water recovery efforts.

President Ferdinand Marcos previously said that improper waste disposal and climate change contributed to the flooding of many areas in Metro Manila.

Marcos said in his 3rd State of the Nation Address last July that even if more than 5,500 flood control projects have been completed, the designs of the existing facilities must be reviewed.