DENR to lead coastal cleanup in Visayas

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will lead volunteers in clearing coastal areas of trash and debris in the Visayas today, International Coastal Cleanup Day.

“There is a need to give our coastal and marine areas due attention,” said Jim Sampulna, DENR director for Western Visayas.

Sampulna reiterated DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu’s call to protect coastal resources by implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act.

The cleanup in the region includes the coastline of Iloilo City that faces the island province of Guimaras. The area is home to a community of informal settlers.

In Capiz, the activity will be focused on Baybay Beach in Roxas City. This stretch of beach features many seafood restaurants and also has informal settlers.

In Aklan, there will be simultaneous cleanup drives at the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town and in Kalibo town.

Information chief Artemio Colacion said another priority is the Malandog River in Antique. Colacion said Cimatu has ordered the river’s revival.

In Guimaras, the cleanup will be at Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Nueva Valencia town.

Arturo N. Salazar, officer-in-charge of the regional DENR office for Eastern Visayas, said the Conservation and Development Division and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) will spearhead the cleanup along the coast of Panalaron Bay, Cancabato Bay, San Pedro Bay and Mangonbangon River.

Salazar invited the public to join the event which will start at 6 a.m. in Tacloban City.

“Let us join millions of people around the globe in rehabilitating and cleaning our coastal areas, seas, rivers and waterways from marine debris that harm our marine life and ecosystems,” Salazar said.

After the cleanup, a short program will be held at Plaza Rizal in Tacloban.

Salazar said among the groups joining the event are ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan, Let’s Do It! Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and PCG-Auxiliary, Knights of Columbus, United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Volunteer for the Visayans, Petron Corporation, Tacloban City Rescue Unit (TACRU), Rotary Club of Kandaya, SEED4Com, and the city government.