Thomasians participate in coastal clean-up community service day

Now on its second year, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) SIMBAHAYAN Community Development Office, together with the UST Human Resource Department, organized the Community Service Day that consisted of a Coastal Clean-Up and Nature Walk Activity held at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA).

The activity was a proactive response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si and in support of the university’s goal of involving the administrators, faculty members, support staff and alumni.

Before embarking on the actual clean- up, a brief introduction about the area was given by UST SIMBAHAYAN director associate professor Mark Anthony D. Abenir, DSD, as a way of formally starting the program, and assistant professor Melanie D. Turingan, Ph. D., gave the participants some reminders in order to carry out a successful coastal clean- up.

The group comprised of administrators, faculty members and support staff were able to gather 75 sacks of garbage after the clean-up activity. A naturewalk activity followed, in which the participants were able to see the Philippines’ Sixth Wetland of International importance but is at present under the threat of reclamation and environmental degradation.