ILOILO City – From Iloilo’s shores to Boracay Island’s white sands and Antique’s historic coast of Malandog, thousands of volunteers fanned out before sunrise on Sept. 20 to haul tons of garbage from beaches and waterways in Western Visayas, joining the global observance of the 2025 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).
In Iloilo City, Barangay Sto. Niño Sur bustled with activity as government workers, students, uniformed personnel, and private groups worked shoulder-to-shoulder, picking up plastics, bottles, and other debris in a simultaneous regional drive spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 and various Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PGENRO).
“This is a global movement nga gina-hold every third Saturday of September. Sang 2003 pa ni siya nag-start. At least mag aware man sila nga i-maintain gid nila ang pagtinlo sang aton coastal lines… kay importante gid ya nga malimpyo,” said Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist of Iloilo PGENRO, ahead of last weekend’s activity.
The effort was part of this year’s campaign, “TAYO ANG SOLUSYON: Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis,” highlighting the need for sustained citizen action to combat marine pollution.
Regional mobilization
Cleanups were staged simultaneously in all provinces: Roxas City and Pilar town in Capiz province; Nueva Valencia in Guimaras; Culasi and Bugasong municipalities in Antique; Lambingan Beach in Aklan; Sagay City in Negros Occidental; and various coastal towns in Iloilo Province.
Each site was subdivided into segments, with agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo City Government, and maritime schools assigned specific areas.
Data for policy and awareness
Collected trash was carefully documented to contribute to a national database on marine litter. Peñaflorida said annual audits show declining volumes of garbage compared to previous years — a sign that education and cleanup initiatives are working, though challenges remain.
“We have seen improvements, but there are still areas where we find significant litter. Overall, however, we have managed to maintain cleanliness and order in many of our highways and roadsides. Promoting cleanliness has become part of our daily lives,” she added.
Beyond the shoreline
Peñaflorida reminded the public that the ICC is not just for coastal residents.
“All waterways, whether in uplands, lowlands, urban environments, or coastal regions, should be involved in cleanup efforts,” she stressed, citing the broader “Limpyo Iloilo” program that integrates regular cleanup drives across the province.
She warned that without vigilance, oceans could face a tipping point: “Sort of awareness ma-maintain gid naton… kay kon indi, time will come nga mas damo pa ang basura sa aton kadagatan, compared sa isda nga kinahanglan naton.”/PN
