Approximately 25,000 kilos of garbage were collected in a cleanup of coastlines and seawaters of two cities in Cebu on the observance of International Coastal and Underwater Cleanup Day.

About 24,880 kilos of garbage were collected in Lapu-Lapu City and 495 kilos in Toledo City on September 21, 2024 and September 20, 2024, respectively.

According to Jocelyn Abayan, environmental specialist of the Lapu-Lapu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), 474 kilos were collected through the “Scubasurero” program.

In the underwater cleanup, the most number of items were found to be metal bottle caps or screw caps that reached 463, followed by glass beverage bottles, fishing lines, plastic beverage bottles, construction materials, among others.

In the coastal cleanup, the complete details of the collected trash were not available, as of this writing.

Aside from employees of CENRO and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), volunteer divers, members of the uniformed service, barangays workers and officials, as well as city officials led by Mayor Junard Chan joined the activity which saw the launch of “Sibot Man” project.

“Sibot” in the vernacular means “net.”

Meanwhile, in Barangay Bato, Toledo City, close to 500 kilos of trash were collected.

The event was initiated by a private company that conducts the activity twice a year as a commitment to help protect Tañon Strait being a protected seascape whichToledo City's coastlines touch. 

Workers from various government agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), among others, joined in the cleanup. 

(with reports from Fe Marie Dumaboc/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)