Foundation spearheads coastal, underwater cleanup in Lapu-Lapu

Foundation spearheads coastal, underwater cleanup in Lapu-Lapu
The Freeman
October 19, 2010

Our Islands Foundation, the non-profit organization of The Islands Group, organized the second "Zero Waste in Seas: An Underwater and coastal cleanup project" last September 17 to 18 in Lapu-Lapu City.

The two-day event, held in celebration of the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup, kicked off with an underwater cleanup at Punta West on the 17th which was participated in by 50 volunteer Scuba divers who collected 30 kilos of marine debris. Plastics are the most common items found, including bags, bottles and food wrappers.

On the second day, more than a hundred volunteers enlisted for the coastal cleanup held at the coastal area of Saac, Brgy. Mactan. They were able to gather 380 kilos of rubbish, from which plastics are still the most common items found.

According to Our Islands Foundaton Executive Director Chai Apale, the yearly activity has a very ambitious name yet the principle behind it is to strongly promote environmental awareness and not just simply get rid of trashes.

For this year's event, The Islands Group has partnered with other environment-conscious organizations such as Ocean Care Advocates Inc., Bigfoot Studios Inc., Cebu Yacht Club, AquaDive and ScubaDen, and sponsored by Thirsty, Worldwide Dive & Sail, Feel Deep, Ipanema, Grendha, Ocean Potion, Rider and the Philippine Business for Social Progress.

All data collected during the cleanup drives are submitted to the Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization that started the International Coastal Cleanup in 1985.