In observance of the Month of the Ocean this May 2023, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Region 10 spearheaded a coastal clean-up activity among the 12 coastal barangays in Cagayan de Oro City on May 19, 2023.
On behalf of DENR 10 Regional Executive Director Henry A. Adornado, Conservation and Development Division (CDD) OIC-Chief, Forester Fidel P. Gamos Jr. highlighted the importance of the ocean as the major provider of food and other marine resources.
City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) head, Engr. Armin Cuenca prior to the clean-up activity expressed the support of the city government to eliminate plastic pollution in the coastal areas of the City.
Moreover, CDD Deputy Chief, Mercedita G. Barbarona guided participants on how to fill up the Volunteer Ocean Trash Data Form for proper documentation and record the type of trash collected during the activity to help formulate possible solutions to reduce its impact on the world’s oceans and waterways.
A total of 1,113 volunteers/participants joined the said activity from various national government agencies, non-government organizations, private organizations, barangay local government units and its residents, bantay dagat, fisherfolks, academe, youth organizations, media, Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and other concerned groups.
The coastal clean-up covered a distance of 11.86 kilometers and gathered 550.50 sacks weighing 9,742.20 kilograms.
This year’s Month of the Ocean celebration theme is “Sustainably Feed the Global Population” which aims to support the maintenance and improvement of marine ecosystems and establish partnerships with concerned stakeholders to explore innovative solutions through the restoration and management of fish stocks and seafood for livelihood and food security. #TayoAngKalikasan (RSCIG No. 05-133-2023)
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