DENR V Spearheads International Coastal Clean-Up Day

Legazpi City (21 September) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Coastal and Marine Management Division and Environmental Management Bureau is set to organize the region's biggest volunteer environmental event, as the world marks the 25^th year of the International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) day on September 25, 2010.

"Thousands are expected to volunteer for the 25^th ICC Day to clean up coastlines and waterways in the region. We attribute this to the DENR's intensive campaign to instill a growing awareness and vigilance among the Bicolanos on how important is marine environment to biological diversity and development," DENR V Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada said.

Fragada said that based on the 2009 ICC Regional Data, two thousand participants joined the annual event with a total of 13,000 kilograms of trash collected in Bicol's beaches and waterways.

Last year, Philippines ranked second to the United States of America with a total of 74, 493 volunteers, 327,345 kilograms of collected debris and 2,427.36 kilometers of shoreline cleaned. Worldwide, the Ocean Conservancy registered 500, 000 volunteers from 108 countries, gleaning 7.4 million pounds of trash.

ICC Day will have a kick off program in Legazpi City Boulevard led by Rotary Club of Legazpi Central, DENR-EMB/CMMD to underscore the international movement to end the threat of trash through mobilization of communities to clean up local beaches, lakes, and rivers with a common mission of improving the health of the ocean and waterways.

"We intend to remind and re-awaken our people for vigilance in support for the continuing crusade against the marine debris crisis all over the world" Fragada pointed out.

ICC is a worldwide annual event to focus global concern over the worsening marine and coastal pollution. Initiated by the Ocean Conservancy, ICC has succeeded in raising people's awareness of marine debris crisis. The event has evolved as the largest volunteer effort for the environment.

"The ocean is our life support system - yet marine debris continues to threaten its health. From product design to disposal, we all have a role to play in keeping our ocean clean and eliminating marine debris," said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy.

In the Philippines, the observance is in consonance with Proclamation No. 470 dated September 15, 2003 which declared every third Saturday of September each year as the International Coastal Clean-Up Day, consistent with Presidential Proclamation No. 244 declaring September as National Clean-Up Month. This year's observance is focused on the theme: "Trash Travels - From our Hands to the Sea, round the Globe, and Through Time", complemented with the national theme "Basurang Pinabayaan, Problema Hanggang Ibang Bayan".