Coastal Cleanup in Northern Negros gathers 6.5k lbs of garbage

Around 126 sacks of garbage weighing 6,514.3 pounds were collected today along the 965-meter shoreline of Purok Sta. Cruz in Brgy. Poblacion, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Garbage collected were mostly composed of ghost nets, diapers, polyethylene twines, tires, single-use plastics, food wrappers, plastic bottles, cans, cigarette butts, and food containers.

Over 170 volunteers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO) Negros Occidental, Community ENRO (CENRO) Cadiz, TSPS-Negros Occidental, Escalante City ENRO, Philippine Coast Guard-Escalante Substation, Philippine National Police-Escalante City, Maritime Group, brgy. officials, people’s organizations, and stakeholders joined in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day with the theme, “Fighting for Trash-Free Seas, Pilipinas! Ending the Flow of Trash at the Source”.

A short program was held after the clean-up to encourage the community to actively get involved in all environment-related events.

Executive Assistant Rolyn Cabus welcomed the participants and emphasized the impact of everyone’s actions towards the environment.

Kagawad Tommy Montinola highlighted the different ways that can be done in order to minimize the effects of improper waste disposal.

Jimmy Alfanta of the City ENRO also discussed salient points on Solid Waste Management and encouraged the community to conduct clean-up activities regulary and not only during the ICC.

Chief TSD, Catherine C. Balasa gave her closing message on behalf of OIC PENRO Joan Nathaniel F. Gerangaya, thanking everyone who took part in the activity, and she also reiterated that everyone must be a part of the solution and not the problem.

IN E.B.MAGALONA TOO

In the same way, PENRO Gerangaya led the clean-up activity at Brgys. Batea and Madalag in E.B. Magalona, with CENRO Bago City personnel in collaboration with the Local Government Unit of E.B. Magalona represented by MENRO Jojo Vargas.

Some 365 kilos of wastes, collected at Barangays Madalag and Batea, consisted mostly of single-use plastics, styros, plastic bottles and cigarette butts. Personnel from CENRO Bago, North Negros Natural Park, MENRO EB Magalona and residents of both barangays joined in the ICC activity.

The third Saturday of September is declared annually as the International Coastal Cleanup Day in the Philippines pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 470 Series of 2003.* (MTRP-PENRO/CENRO Bago/CENRO Cadiz)