The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region 10 (DENR 10) led the observance of September as National Cleanup Month and International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day on September 17 through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign, underwater and coastal cleanup and other relevant activities in Region 10 attended by various sectors in Northern Mindanao.
More than 4,000 volunteers collected 1,559 trash bags weighing 30,984.07 kilograms in a 53.409 kilometer distance of the coastal barangays of Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin and Lanao del Norte and Iligan City during the celebration of ICC Day.
Report indicated that most of the collected items were beverage bottles, beverage sachets/pouches, grocery bags, other plastic bags and bottle caps.
DENR 10 Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry A. Adornado said the observance of the International Coastal Cleanup and National Cleanup Month is an opportunity for the office to deepen partnership and commitment of local government units (LGUs), private and government sectors and other stakeholders on the protection and conservation of coastal and marine areas.
With the theme “Fighting for Trash-Free Seas, Pilipinas: Ending the Flow of Trash at the Source,” the DENR 10 conducted IEC campaign through lectures, distribution of IEC materials, discussion of solid waste management during DENR-sponsored radio program and social media posting.
RED Adornado stressed the importance of inculcating in the minds of the people the shared value of caring for the environment and undertaking sustainable development practices.
He thanked the participants of the simultaneous coastal cleanup, IEC campaign, underwater cleanup and turn-over of buoys for demarcation of the Dampil Marine Protected Area in Dampil, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.
September is declared as the National Clean-up Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 244 and 3 rd Saturday of September as National Clean-up Day per Presidential Proclamation No. 470. (From the report of the Coastal and Marine Resources and Foreshore Management Section – Conservation and Development Division) RSCIG No. 10-294-2022
