Coastal cleanup drive marks 5th year

MANILA, Philippines - Shore It Up, the country’s longest corporate-backed coastal cleanup, marks a new milestone as it launches its year-long coastal cleanup drive at the Bambu Villa Resort in Mabini, Batangas on May 25-26.

Incepted in Anilao a day after typhoon Ondoy wreaked havoc in 2009, the program is spearheaded by Metro Pacific Investment Foundation (MPIF) and volunteers from the MVP Group of Companies to help rescue, restore and revive the country’s fragile coastal and marine ecosystems. 

The activities will focus on underwater clean-up in Anilao and neighboring barangays which are known as among the world’s best dive sites. Some 50 divers from the MPIC companies and partner groups will take part in the two-day event.  

On the second day, 50 elementary students from nearby schools will attend the Junior Environmental Scouts (JES) Seminar to inculcate concern for Mother Earth among young children. 

Moreover, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will  conduct a coral reef restoration in the municipal waters of Mabini to help preserve its rich marine life.

According to MPIC vice president for communications Melody Del Rosario, the MVP Group of Companies strives to increase environmental awareness and  to address the problems of the community in terms of possible livelihood component and ecotourism ventures. 

To ensure the sustainability of its programs, Shore It Up will return to its previous cleanup destinations to build on their initiatives as part of the year-long environmental campaign. 

These are Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro; Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City, Pangasinan; and Subic Bay-Zambales. 

She noted that over the past five years, the program has grown from 20 to 13,000 volunteers and from three event partners to 43, which include various local government units where the Shore It Up is held. 

The final leg of this year’s series will be hosted by Del Carmen town in Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, where the first-ever Siargao Mangrove Marathon will be held.

Dubbed “Shore-gao It Up”, this edition aims to increase awareness in mangrove protection and make its LGU partner, the municipality of Del Carmen, the country’s center for carbon offsetting.  The town is known for its 4,000-hectare mangrove forests, one of the biggest in the Philippines. 

“With this new endeavor, Shore It Up will not only bring a positive environmental impact to its destinations, but also economic and socio-cultural as well – components for a sustainable tourism program,” Del Rosario concluded. 

For more information, log on to www.shoreitup.org.