Sara Duterte underscores importance of coastal cleanups

DAVAO CITY--Dabawenyos should protect marine resources as it remains one of the most reliable food sources for Filipinos, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Tuesday.

Mayor Sara said called for strengthened cooperation to ensure the protection of marine environment, particularly the Davao Gulf, where thousands of fisherfolk depend on the rich marine resources to put food on the table.

One way where residents and the private sector can contribute in this effort is to organize or join regular coastal cleanups in the city, she said.

The mayor also emphasized the need for residents and businesses to continue the practice of reusing and recycling materials.

“I also remind the people nga dili pataka ug labay sa ilang basura (I also remind the people not to throw their garbage anywhere),” she said in an interview.

Duterte-Carpio said the city government has been regularly holding coastal clean-ups in partnership with Bantay Dagat volunteers on weekends.

The coastal cleanup started sometime last year after Mayor Sara said she saw tons of garbage floating in the Davao Gulf.

There are 32 barangays along the city’s coastline, and some of the garbage also comes from these barangays along the rivers that empty out to the Davao Gulf.

Over the weekend, city government employees together with Bantay Dagat volunteers kicked off the celebration of the Environment Month with tree-planting and coastal clean-up activities.

Participants hauled over 3,000 sacks of garbage that included plastic bottles, wrappers, tires, sacks and rubber slippers from 32 coastal barangays. Barangay 23-C was found to have the most volume of wastes collected.

City Chief Information Officer Jefry Tupas said the mayor has been urging communities to participate in efforts to keep communities clean by observing proper solid waste management and by joining clean-up drives.

Tupas said there are 300 Bantay Dagat volunteers who regularly conduct clearing operations all over the 32 coastal areas. They use baskets to manually remove wastes from the shores and also from beneath the water in the city's coastal villages. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)