PCG: Philippine Coast Guard is urging all students, workers, and volunteers to join the32nd Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up 2017 as part of the worldwide effort of clearing tons of trash from coastlines, rivers, and lakes and recording every piece of trash collected which aims toheighten environmental awareness and volunteerism this Saturday, 16 September.

During the last year’s ICC, 504, 583 volunteers from 112 countries participated and picked up 13,840, 398 debris items amounting to 8,346,055 kilos of marine debris which covers 24,136 kilometers of beaches, waterways and underwater areas.

Among the identified items collected ranking as top ten are as follows:  cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws/stirrer, glass beverage bottles, other plastic bags, and foam take-away containers respectively.

As compared to other clean up drives, ICC is unique in a way that its implementation highlights on organized scientific data collection wherein volunteers are not only requested to pick up litter but also to identify and record it  in their application CleanSwell where information gathered is analyzed by scientists and ocean advocates to come up with solutions for healthier oceans.

To join the twelve million and counting volunteers, PCG Spokesperson, CDR ARMANDO A BALILO PCG, encourages everyone to register at ICC Philippines website and to participate in this worldwide call to protect our maritime environment.

As part of the PCG’s mandates of safe, secured and cleaner seas, the Command, together with PCGA, gears towards leading our fellow citizens to actively involve in activities that deepens our concern for the environment and eventually generates to the betterment of the society we live in.

In connection with the ICC 2017, all Coast Guard Districts will conduct a Coastal Clean-up Activity at their respective regions.  Meanwhile, two hundred fifty (250) PCG personnel from different Coast Guard staff and units will participate on the following coastal clean-up sites: (1) Bay Walk, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, (2) Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA), (3) Mall of Asia, (4) Navotas Fish Port and (5) Navotas Centennial Park at around 06:00 A.M.