Making waves for cleaner coasts! The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau – Coastal Resources and Ecotourism, Research, Development and Extension Center (ERDB-CRERDEC) demonstrated their dedication to environmental stewardship by joining a simultaneous coastal cleanup event organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Central Visayas (DENR-7) on September 16, 2023. The cleanup campaign was part of the global celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day, which involved the participation of various stakeholders and partners from the City and Local Government Units in the region.

CRERDEC volunteers led by Center Head Jose Isidro Michael T. Padin joined the DENR-7 Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cebu team in the cleanup operation along the Kinalumsan River. The river is located close to Barangays Mambaling and Pasil, along the South Coastal Road in Cebu City. Volunteers from various sectors, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 701- Ready Reserve Infantry Batallion, and several private institutions joined the group, which collected a total of 237 sacks of plastic waste, mostly plastic products. The DENR 7 reported that volunteers in Central Visayas picked up around 742 sacks of trash weighing an estimated 5,060.20 kg.

This year’s International Coastal Cleanup theme, “Clean Seas for Healthy Fisheries,” emphasizes the connection between ocean health and fish populations. The ICC’s goal is to protect coastal ecosystems that sustain fisheries and promote the preservation of coastlines. AFJ, CRERDEC

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