Local Community Unites to Protect Oceans of La Union
By: Diana E. Jutba, GPC-ENRO | Photos By: PIO | Date: September 16, 2023
In a resounding display of #LaUnionPROBINSYANihan and environmental stewardship, around 300 volunteers came together to join the coastal clean-up drive along the coastal area of San Juan, La Union on September 16, 2023, in celebration of the International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day.
Volunteers from various organizations, including the Provincial Government of La Union, Local Government Unit of San Juan, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Information Agency, National Chaplains of the Philippines, Civil Service Commission, Department of Education, National Police Commission, Philippine Army, and Boy Scout of the Philippines, converged along the coast of Barangay Ili Norte to Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union, to contribute to the global efforts aimed at curbing plastic pollution and safeguarding oceans.
Bearing the theme, "Clean Seas for Healthy Fisheries," the volunteers emphasized the urgency of combating plastic pollution, particularly marine debris and microplastics, which pose grave threats to fishes and other marine life.
Gov. Raphaelle Veronica "Rafy" Ortega-David expressed her support to the said activity. In her message delivered by Executive Assistant IV Justo "Tito" Orros III, she underscored the importance of La Union PROBINSYAnihan in promoting plastic litter-free oceans. She praised the celebration of ICC as a catalyst for this campaign and for fostering volunteerism in line with the #KalikasanNaman Campaign of the Province.
An estimate of 212 kilograms of trash were collected during the one-day activity. Most frequently found trash were single-use plastics, including plastic wrappers/sachets, sando bags, plastic straws, foam food containers and cups, and plastic bottles. Simultaneous clean-up drives were also organized in other Local Government Units across the Province to mark the occasion.
The ICC stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of La Union PROBINSYAnihan in preserving the natural beauty of coastal environments and protecting the ecosystems within them.
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