The DENR-CENRO Calauag, through its Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), has organized a cleanup activity along the kilometer stretch of Balubad River in Brgy. Balubad, Atimonan, Quezon, to support the simultaneous conduct of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day on 16 September 2023.

ICC is one of the largest public initiatives that involves a wide-ranging stakeholder engagement that aims to maintain the coastal and marine ecosystems every 3rd week of September. The latter is a product of a common goal of individuals who rallied together 35 years ago to document the garbage collected along the coastline.

Two of the dedicated individuals from Ocean Conservancy back in 1980s, Linda Maraniss and Kathy O’Hara headed the campaign and had reached out to the Texas General Land Office, local businesses, and other dedicated ocean lovers, to kick-off the 1st Ocean Conservancy’s cleanup.

The duo were the ones who promoted the standardized means of recording the picked-up trash along coastlines, which they believe may serve as a basis for eliminating coastal trash in the future. Since then, this movement has created a wide influence throughout the globe, up until the recent ICC activities.

This year’s theme, "Clean Seas for Healthy Fisheries," lines up one of the objectives of the United Nations to sustainably feed the global population.

During the ICC event of CENRO Calauag, Forest Technician I Hector S. Dañez, the CENRO Calauag’s Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Management Program (CMEMP) Focal Person, stressed that it is important for the Brgy. Balubad community to conduct such cleanup activity to protect the biodiversity and living organisms thriving in coastal and marine ecosystems. Hence, the activity may lead to a favorable outcome in the community’s fisheries.

The CMEMP Focal Person is optimistic that Brgy. Balubad will be a partner of CENRO Calauag not only in the coastal cleanup activities but also in the environmental laws’ implementation for the success of programs, projects, and activities of the DENR.

FT I Dañez on behalf of CENR Officer Joselito D. Barros, added that without the synergy between the DENR and its stakeholders, the implementation of laws becomes difficult; since CENRO Calauag has jurisdiction within all 11 municipalities in the 4th district of Quezon Province, including the town of Pitogo in the 3rd district.   

The activity resulted in the removal of 23 sacks of solid wastes with an estimated weight of 81 kilograms, collected along a kilometer extent of Balubad River by 52 participants from Atimonan MLGU, Balubad BLGU, Tau Gamma Phi, and CENRO Calauag.

The majority of the garbage collected were other plastic bags at 283 pieces; beverage bottles (plastic) at 161 pieces; and food wrappers (candy, chips, etc.) at 156 pieces. The municipal dump truck of Atimonan then picked up the collected waste for proper disposal.

Moreover, the participants received tote bags as a token of appreciation from CENRO Calauag for supporting this year’s celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup.

The DENR-CENRO Calauag continue to implement and support related local and international celebrations in conservation and protection of the coastal and marine ecosystems through the conduct of activities by the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP).###

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Parent Category: News & Events
Category: Press Releases
Published: 11 October 2023