Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) and all its Regional Fish Ports (RFP) nationwide joined the 2022 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) with the theme “Fighting for Trash-Free Seas: Pilipinas Ending the Flow of Trash at the Source", held on September 17, 2022.

Led by PFDA Officer-in-Charge General Manager (OICGM) Ms. Iris R. de Vera, hundreds of volunteers, port employees, and port clients from all PFDA RFPs actively participated in the simultaneous cleanup drive where they collected and segregated sacks of plastics, bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials.

OICGM de Vera welcomed everyone who attended the nationwide activity as she joined the cleanup drive from the PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex (PFDA-NFPC). After two years of being under strict and heavy restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PFDA has once again rejoined the ICC 2022.

“Ang selebrasyon natin ngayong araw ay nagpapa-alala sa atin ng kalinisan hindi lamang sa ating sarili and sa ating bakuran, kundi pati na rin sa ating pinagtatrabahuhan. Ang kahulugan ng ating cleanup drive ngayon ay ang responsible living. Tayo mismo sa ating sarili, dapat natin i-practice na kung anuman ang ating gagawin, may epekto ito sa susunod na mga araw,” OICGM de Vera said.

Since its establishment in 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup has become the largest volunteer effort for the ocean’s health wherein people all over the world gather on shorelines, rivers, lakes, and other waterways to remove plastics and other debris that are harmful to our waters and to marine animals.

In the Philippines, Presidential Proclamation No. 470 series of 2003 declares the third Saturday of September of each year as the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day in observance of the Global Coast Clean-up Celebrations. 

The country joined the ICC in 1994 with the International Maritime Alliance as the country coordinator.

(Mark Angelo N. Perez – Public Information Division)