By: Danille Maye Lagman - @TheCapitol_News The Capitol October 7, 2022
The volunteers collect non-biodegradable waste during a coastal clean-up drive at the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach in Manila on Sept. 17, 2022. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
Manila, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) racked up over 4,500 sacks of non-biodegradable waste over a cleanup drive it led for the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach last September 17, in observance of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022.
More than 4,000 volunteers joined the cleanup drive for the coastal area of the 500-meter beach where piles of garbage were accumulated.
The DENR-Metropolitan Environmental Office (DENR-MEO), the department’s office tasked to supervise the maintenance of Dolomite Beach, reported 147,939 sacks of solid waste gathered after the cleanup initiative held from July 12 to September 14.
Rodelina de Villa, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the DENR-MEO-West, said most of the waste collected are plastic scraps including sachets and drinking bottles, marine sewage, and dried water hyacinth.
According to her, the DENR Central Office through the Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) provided 3,000 of the 4,500 garbage sacks, while the DENR-National Capital Region which includes the DENR-MEO West, supplied 1,500 garbage sacks.
Volunteers from private organizations and other government departments participate in the cleanup drive at the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach in Manila on Sept. 17, 2022. (Photo courtesy of DENR)
“Volunteers from government, private organizations, and private individuals came to the Baywalk’s coastline with their own garbage bags as well,” she added.
Other entities such as the Manila Water Company, Maynilad Water Services Inc., and the Dragon Boat Federation of the Philippines also joined in this event.
Environmental bodies and groups were already at the historic bay ahead of International Coastal Clean-Up Day, which was first celebrated in 1986 in the American state of Washington.
The International Coastal Clean-up Day is held annually every third Saturday of September in the Philippines under the Presidential Proclamation No. 470 issued in 2003.
The Supreme Court issued SC Mandamus on Manila Bay (G.R. 171947-48) in 2008, directing 13 government agencies including the DENR to clean up, restore, and preserve Manila Bay through the rehabilitation and maintenance of its waters to make them fit for skin-diving, swimming, and other kinds of contact recreation.
(Photo courtesy of Mohd Sarajan from Picture Alliance)
Keywords:
DENR
ICC Day
cleanup
cleanup drive
Dolomite Beach
garbage
waste
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