The local government units (LGUs) of Navotas and Valenzuela City on Saturday, Sept. 16, conducted clean-up drives in different villages and waterways in the cities as part of the 2023 International Coastal Clean-Up Day celebration.
Around 700 Navotas City government and local police personnel, city councilors, youth organizations, non-government organizations and private companies joined the activity held in different areas in the city’s 18 barangays and at the Tanza Marine Park on Saturday.
Navotas City Mayor John Reynald “Jon Rey“ Tiangco, who led the clean-up drive along the shores in Pantay-pantay, Barangay Tangos South, reminded the residents to be responsible in disposing their wastes and to always keep their surroundings clean.
Members of the Navotas City Environment and Natural Resources Office also conducted an information drive on proper waste segregation and disposal to the residents.
Tiangco also encouraged the residents to make proper segregation of wastes a habit to help in maintaining a safe and clean environment.
Meanwhile, the Valenzuela City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) led the clean-up drive held at Mariveles and Dulong Tangke Creeks in the city on the same day.
The clean-up drive was conducted in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The participants of the activities in both cities collected several kinds of wastes made of different materials such as plastic, metal, styrofoam, and rubber.
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval also lead the coastal clean-up drive and planting of 300 mangrove trees along the waterways of the Malabon Megadike in Barangay Dampalit for the 2023 International Clean-up Day.
Sandoval said they collected around 550 garbage bags containing different kinds of wastes along the megadike.
She encouraged residents to continue joining activities for the environment which were part of their initiatives for a “Clean and Green Malabon.”
The International Coastal Clean-up Day is celebrated every third Saturday of September in the country to address ocean and water pollution through beach and waterway clean up drives and other activities that will help in protecting the health and productivity of marine ecosystems in the country, according to the DENR.