According to the Washington, D.C.-based environmental advocacy group Ocean Conservancy, 80% of trash found in our oceans comes from land-based activities, while the remaining 20% originates from marine vessels, cruise ships, and ocean-based industrial activities, such as drilling for oil. Ocean trash is a problem that can no longer be ignored, as it adversely affects ocean wildlife, people’s health and livelihoods, and local economies. To help fight this scourge, the group laid the foundations 30 years ago for what has become known as the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), now celebrated every third Sunday of September.
The activity targets cleaning up trash from the source, preventing garbage from reaching our oceans. ICC is now the world's largest volunteer effort for ocean health, according to Ocean Conservancy.
Volunteers from various JG Summit conglomerate companies gathered at the Navotas Centennial Park to participate in "The Battle for Trash-Free Manila Bay."
On September 21, 2019, 61 volunteers from the JG Summit Holdings conglomerate composed of employees from Universal Robina Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation and Cebu Pacific took part in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-organized ICC Philippines activities dubbed “The Battle for Trash-Free Manila Bay.”
Despite the rain and generally gloomy weather, the JG Summit employee volunteers made their way to Navotas Centennial Park, a waterfront park facing Manila Bay. While the park is a popular place for jogging and other activities, its coastal areas are often littered with trash. For two hours, the JG crew combed the area and were able to collect almost 500 kilos of garbage, which were turned over to the event’s organizers for proper disposal.
Speaking about the experience, Nguyen Viet Truong, R&D Manager, Global Innovations at URC head office shared, “I want people to be aware and educate them that we need to clean up the ocean. I want to encourage people to do it.” He went on to say that people can be empowered to do this on their own, any time of the year, not just on International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Wilma Seño, URC Bagong Ilog Plant Manager, shared the same sentiments. “Joining the coastal cleanup drive is my personal responsibility to the next generation who are the beneficiaries of our [clean] shores. The cleanup activities may not yet resolve the current state of our shorelines, but such initiative will definitely raise awareness amongst everyone.
“I had a fun and fulfilling experience. It’s so inspiring to see people coming together for one great cause, to help save our environment. Truly, the spirit of bayanihan is very much alive,” said Seño.
Together, the JGS volunteers managed to collect nearly 500 kilos of garbage.
From the Cebu Pacific contingent, CSR Specialist Roxanne M. Gochuico said CEB employees volunteered to join the annual ICC activity as part of their continuing efforts to ramp-up the airline's signature Juan Effect program. She thanked her colleagues for doing their part in the global fight for a clean and healthy ocean free of trash.
The RLC team, led by CSR Manager Mike Torres, was also proud to be a part of the largest volunteer effort for our ocean's health. He added that the results of this activity will aid in better waste management policies and plans, product packaging designs, and in stirring environmental consciousness among the people.
This is the second year that JG Summit has participated in ICC under the banner of the Philippine Alliance of Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS), of which URC is a member. PARMS is a multi-stakeholder coalition of corporations, civil service organizations, academe, and government agencies, aimed to address issues on waste management.
