Some 6,277 volunteers gathered 9,027 kilos of wastes during the region-wide cleanup in celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, today, September 20, 2025.
With the theme, “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis”, this year’s ICC aims to raise awareness on marine pollution, strengthen community participation and promote environmental stewardship in addressing the impacts of climate change.
The cleanup drive was spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol headed by Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla Jr., through its Field Offices, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 5 and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 5. In Legazpi City, 954 volunteers collected some 1,644.48 kilos of wastes in the shorelines of Barangays Lamba, Puro and Macabalo River in Dapdap. The cleanup was conducted in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA), Local Government Unit (LGU) of Legazpi, Barangay Local Government Units (BLUs) of Puro, Lamba, and Dapdap, Civil Service Commission (CSC) 5, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 5, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 5, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 5, National Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 5, Bicol College School of Law, Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL), Legazpi City Water District (LCWD), SM City Legazpi, J&T Express and other volunteers.
In 2024, the ICC Day observance in Bicol gathered 6,223 volunteers who collected 1,395 sacks of solid waste weighing approximately 8,180 kilograms. This year, the garbage collected consisted primarily of cigarette butts, plastic cups, food and candy wrappers, boxes, bottles, bottle caps, clothing, diapers, slippers, face masks, toy plushies and parts of appliances.
DENR Bicol Assistant Regional Director for Special Concerns (ARD-SC) Adona P. San Diego expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of the volunteers and the participating organizations. “Ang inyong malasakit at pakikipagtulungan ay patunay na ang pangangalaga sa ating mga baybayin at karagatan ay hindi lamang tungkulin ng iilan, kundi responsibilidad nating lahat. Bawat piraso ng basura na ating nakolekta ngayon ay hakbang tungo sa mas malinis, mas ligtas, at mas matatag na kapaligiran para sa susunod na henerasyon,” said ARD San Diego.
Meanwhile, PENRO Camarines Norte led by PENR Officer Nestor Franz A. Fortuno in coordination with SM City Daet and forty-eight (48) other partner agencies collected approximately 2,206 kilograms of solid wastes from three (3) cleanup sites, San Jose in Talisay, Bagasbas in Daet, and San Roque in Mercedes. The activity was participated in by a total of 2,146 volunteers.
In the province of Masbate, the ICC celebration gathered 413 volunteers and resulted in the collection of 147 sacks of solid wastes weighing 1,289.37 kilograms. The activity was conducted at the coastal areas of Masbate City, Barangay Burgos in San Jacinto, Barangay Poblacion in San Fernando, Batuan Pier at Barangay Poblacion in Batuan and Barangay Poblacion in Monreal, Masbate, respectively.
The cleanup activities were facilitated by PENRO Masbate led by OIC, PENR Officer Ferdinand L. Baltazar, CENRO Mobo led by CENR Officer Jean V. Imperial, and CENRO San Jacinto led by OIC, CENR Officer Lemuel A. Soriano along with their local partner stakeholders.
In addition, around 1,297 volunteers were organized by PENRO Catanduanes led by OIC, PENR Officer Cyril C. Magdaraog for cleanup along the shorelines of Virac and Bato. The team collected approximately 345 sacks of wastes, weighing 1,158 kilograms.
PENRO Sorsogon under the leadership of OIC, PENR Officer Marlon C. Francia also spearheaded the cleanup at Pier Site, Rompeolas, Barangay Talisay, Sorsogon City. The 1,052 volunteers collected 216 sacks of garbage weighing 1,610.71 kilograms.
Similarly, a total of 10 sacks of solid waste weighing around 63 kilograms were collected during the cleanup in Barangay Coguit, Balatan, Camarines Sur. The cleanup was led by OIC, PENRO Camarines Sur Herleo O. Pavericio, in collaboration with CENRO Iriga headed by OIC, CENR Officer Aldrin B. Barruga II, together with Undersecretary for Legal and Administration (USEC) Atty. Ernesto A. Adobo Jr., RED Francisco E. Milla Jr., Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services (ARD-TS) Atty. Ronnel Sopsop and volunteers.
In addition, 109 volunteers collected 624 kilograms of waste during the cleanup activity spearheaded by CENRO Goa headed by Basil Cesar S. Camba in Barangay Sta. Maria, Presentacion, Camarines Sur. Likewise, 60 volunteers gathered 60 kilograms of waste in a separate cleanup led by CENRO Sipocot, headed by CENR Officer Daisy M. Terciano in Barangay Anib, Sipocot, Camarines Sur.
Moreover, CENRO Guinobatan led by OIC, CENR Officer Alejandro D. Maranan conducted their ICC celebration on September 19, 2025 at Barangay Cagmanaba, Oas, Albay. The cleanup was participated in by 181 volunteers who were able to collect 232 kilograms of solid wastes.
This year, the garbage collected consisted primarily of grocery bags, beverage bottles, cans, and caps, cigarette butts, plastic straws, cups and utensils, food and candy wrappers, Styrofoam, lids, fishing lines and net, rope, diapers, slippers, tires, clothing, e-cigarettes, toy plushies and parts of appliances.
The DENR Bicol headed by RED Milla reiterates the Department’s continued dedication to environmental preservation, emphasizing that the battle against marine pollution is a year-round effort.
“Let us sustain this momentum by practicing proper waste management and supporting initiatives that safeguard our seas. Our goal is not only to clean today but to prevent waste from polluting our oceans tomorrow,” said RED Milla.
Observed every 3rd Saturday, the ICC is held in conjunction with the celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo), which is an initiative to increase awareness and public knowledge on our coastal and marine ecosystems.
The DENR Bicol is hopeful that more communities will take action and refrain from littering coastal shorelines, rivers, lakes and waterways, identify sources of litter and promote behavior change to combat marine pollution. ###
Source: DENR Bico