International Coastal Cleanup with Coke Philippines

Las Piñas and Parañaque Critical  Habitat  & Eco Tourism Area ( LPPCHEA ), Metro Manila -Philippines

Coca-Cola FEMSA- Philippines registration booth

For the last 18 years , Coca Cola executives , family, friends  had teamed -up with the Ocean Conservancy  annual intentional coastal clean-up . The Coca-cola  set up several registration sites within the LPPCHEA grounds and  tarpaulin posters for the tabulation of all the non-biodegradable wastes that the volunteers are collecting.

local government

Hundred of thousand of people , government agencies,  multinational companies, NGO’s , Schools,  individuals have pitched in to help clean up our beaches and waterways as part of the world’s largest  volunteer effort for the marine environment.

L-R Senator Cynthia Villar, Mr. Neric Acosta, Coca Cola Public Affairs and Communications Vice President  Atty. Adel Tamano and Coca-Cola Philippines Corporate Affairs Director Juan Dominquez

This year’s slogan ” Bayanihan Para sa Malinis na Karagatan” .  the slogan aims to create helping hands in all sectors of the society.

Atty. Adel Tamano

Atty. Tamano said ” We take our commitment to sustainability very seriously . We are working to embed sustainability into every aspect of our business and we are committed to making sure our system associates, stakeholders,customer and consumers are part of the process. Our presence today is a simple act of living up to our sustainability. “

During the 2012 International Coastal Cleanup, more than 550,000 volunteers picked up more than 10 million pounds of marine debris in 27 countries and location. Of those volunteers,  more than 24,000 were  volunteer of Coca-cola associates, friends and family who helped remove more than 550,000 pounds of litter and debris from over 1,300 miles of coastline.

US ambassador Harry K. Thomas

The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has devoted almost $2 billion to this effort to support the conservation program. He also praised the Filipinos for their volunteerism making the Philippines second only to  US in terms of participants. Last year over 100,000 Filipinos participated in the cleaning of the coastline.

Coca-Cola FEMSA – Philippines Corporate Affairs Director Juan Dominquez

In the Philippines, one of the key locations for the clean-up was the Freedom Island within Barangay San Dionisio , Parañaque .  LPPCHEA is a 175-hectare protected area that consists of mangroves, lagoons and ponds located in the Manila Bay coastal area in the cities of Las Piñas and Parañaque. This mangrove forest and marine habitat also serves as a Bird Sanctuary for endemic and migratory birds.

United States embassy volunteers

 People’s Niche of Network for the Integrity of Coastal Habitats and Ecosystem
volunteers and members

Ms. Ces Quimpo ( light blue blouse ) and members of the organization

While at the venue, I was greeted by a fellow environmental  advocate and native plant  lover Ms. Ces Quimpo. She is the sister of Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society Incorporated-  Vice President Ms. Jo Quimpo.

Atty. Adel Tamano , Mr. Rey Aguinaldo and Mr. Caloy ( Coke ambassador of Happiness)

Senator Cynthia Villar being interviewed by media

According to Senator Cynthia Villar, The area is host to about 70 species of birds some of which are endemic to the Philippines. The island has been declared a part of the Wetland of the International Importance and serves as a sanctuary for avian, terrestrial and marine species.

bloggers also joined the clean-up

L-R Miss Philippines -Air 2013 Kimverlyn Suiza , Miss Philippines-Earth 2013 Angelee Claudett delos Reyes and Miss Philippines- Eco Tourism 2013 Bernadette Mae Aguirre

Organized by Ocean Conservancy, the Cleanup  inspires action to remove trash and debris from our waterways and helps change behaviors that allowed these items to reach the water in the first place.

Saint Paul College of Parañaque

The organization stresses the idea that what falls from human hands can be prevented by human hands — and recorded for the benefit of our planet.

Singapore International School  of Manila students and faculties

Philippine Christian University students

Cleanup volunteers serve as “citizen scientists” by recording  every item collected.

Maynilad Water

Maynilad Company set-up tents and gave FREE potable water to all the volunteers

Coca-Cola  Philippines employees picking trash at the beach front

group picture of Coca- Cola- Philippines

Other officials were present in the event. They included Presidential Adviser for Environmental Concerns Neric Acosta; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio; DENR Director Dr. Maria Theresa Mundita- Lim; Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) Vice Admiral Danilo Cabalde, National Director and ICC Philippine Co-coordinator; PCGA Capt. Geronimo Reyes.

Note: I would like to personally ” Thank” Mr. Dust Gaudan , Ms. Bessie Adea Arciga , Atty. Adel Tamano ( Coca-Cola Philippines)  for the invitation and the privilege in joining this yearly coastal clean-up drive.