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To maintain adherence to the minimum public health standards on the conduct of activities with expected large turnout of participants, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MO/C) together with other port stakeholders instead celebrated the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) 2021 through a webinar on 18 September 2021.

A total of 92 participants from the PMO, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, cargo handling operator, and private sector joined the webinar titled, “Philippine Coastal Areas: Significance, Threats and Management”.

The invited resource speaker, Mr. Ronelo Abad of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), provided background on the beginning and goal of the Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy in 1986. He made emphasis on the impact of coastal cleanup, wherein, collected data on the type of marine debris are being analyzed to determine its causes and what can be done to address its proliferation. Results of the analysis are used to educate the public, business, industries, and government officials on the marine-related problem to come up with sustainable solutions.  He also discussed key points on the management of Marine Protected Areas, Locally-Managed Marine Protected Areas, and Marine Key Biodiversity Areas. Lastly, everyone was urged to take part in the protection of coastal resources in one’s own community:

  1. Volunteer with your local environmental organizations
  2. Pick up trash; participate in trash clean-up days.
  3. Help plant trees or seagrass, or remove invasive vegetation,
  4. Don’t litter; streets and storm drains empty into rivers and streams and into our estuaries.
  5. Pick up your pet’s waste.

The PMO together with other port and maritime agencies and partner organizations used to observe the ICC by conducting community-wide clean-up drives in areas adjacent to the ports.

Per Presidential Proclamation No. 470, the third Sunday of September of each year is declared as the ICC Day in observance of the Global Coastal Clean-up celebrations.