More than 350,000 kilograms of trash were collected from 250 coastal sites nationwide during the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) held on Saturday, Sept. 21, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
The cleanup drive, which seeks to raise awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems, gathered a total of 352,479 kilograms of trash and debris, ranging from plastics to other waste materials.
According to DENR, a total of 74,075 volunteers from 1,913 government, academe, and private sector organizations collected trash at beaches, riverbanks, and coastlines.
The agency said the cleanup drive started from the northernmost Pasuquin municipality in the Ilocos Region to the southernmost Gian municipality in the Socksargen Region.
The information gathered during the cleanup, according to the DENR, will help identify the kinds of waste impacting the nation's waters, informing future efforts in conservation, waste recovery, and resource utilization. Recyclable trash will be delivered to the nearest Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga said that this year represents a key milestone in the Philippines' ongoing commitment to coastal cleanliness and environmental conservation.
“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 in her speech.
“Today, we witnessed an incredible outpouring of support and dedication from Filipinos who care deeply about our environment. As we celebrate the 30th year of the International Coastal Cleanup in the Philippines, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our coastal resources and promoting sustainable practices that protect our marine ecosystems,” she went on.
President Marcos had earlier identified climate change and improper waste disposal as key contributors to the severe flooding in Metro Manila.
The ICC is one of the world’s largest volunteer initiatives, with over 150 countries and millions of participants annually. The Philippines began taking part in the ICC around 1994, and in 2003, the government formalized its participation through Presidential Proclamation 470, designating the third Saturday of September as the official ICC day in the country.