By Nimfa L. Estrellado Volunteers from MENRO, BJMP Quezon District, Therma Luzon, Inc., and Barangay Ilayang Polo collect sacks of waste dur...
 |
| Volunteers from MENRO, BJMP Quezon District, Therma Luzon, Inc., and Barangay Ilayang Polo collect sacks of waste during the “Bayanihan sa Kalikasan” coastal clean-up drive in Pagbilao, Quezon. (Aboitiz) |
PAGBILAO, Quezon — Nearly 200 volunteers joined a coastal clean-up drive in Barangay Ilayang Polo, Pagbilao that collected about 5,625 kilograms of waste from community shorelines. The activity formed part of the “Bayanihan sa Kalikasan” clean-up effort organized by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Barangay Captain Cynthia De Leon said the activity highlights cooperation among residents in protecting the cleanliness of the coastal community. She added that removing shoreline waste helps protect marine resources that many families rely on for food and livelihood.
Barangay Ilayang Polo is a coastal community where fishing remains an important source of income for many households and small fishing boats operate daily along its shoreline. Unmanaged coastal waste can damage fishing grounds and create health risks for residents living near the shoreline and nearby coastal waters.
The coastal clean-up drive gathered volunteers from government offices, schools, and private sector partners in Pagbilao. The activity focused on removing shoreline waste while encouraging community participation in protecting the local environment.
The clean-up activity forms part of MENRO’s rotating weekend clean-up program conducted across different barangays in Pagbilao. The program gathers volunteers in selected coastal communities to remove accumulated waste and encourage proper waste disposal practices.
Participants included employees of Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI), an AboitizPower subsidiary that operates a coal-fired power plant in Pagbilao supplying electricity to the Luzon grid. The company joined the activity as part of its work with host communities in areas where its facilities operate.
Participants included volunteers from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Quezon District, Barangay Ilayang Polo, and Polo North Elementary School. Local residents and community partners joined the effort to remove accumulated waste along the shoreline.
TLI Assistant Vice President for Corporate Services Lou Jason Deligencia said the company supports environmental activities in communities where its facilities operate. He added that working with local leaders and residents strengthens shared responsibility in protecting the coastal environment.
AboitizPower said it intends to continue supporting future clean-up activities organized by the municipal environment office in Pagbilao. The company said cooperation with local governments and community groups remains central to its programs that help protect the local environment.
No comments