DENR Leads Simultaneous Plogging Events in Zamboanga and Pagadian for World Environment Day | People’s Press PH

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

In celebration of World Environment Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 9) spearheaded major community clean-up drives in Zamboanga City and Pagadian City, drawing hundreds of participants in support of the global call to end plastic pollution.

In Zamboanga City, approximately 180 individuals joined the “Trek of Care for the Environment”, a 5-kilometer plogging activity that started at the University of Zamboanga Pasonanca Campus, extending to Savannah Grassland and back. The volunteers, composed of students, DENR personnel, environmental advocates, and civic groups, managed to collect around 90 sacks of plastic waste, highlighting the growing problem of single-use plastics in the city.

Simultaneously, in Pagadian City, more than 100 participants took part in a trail plogging initiative organized along the route from a local café to the IBT Terminal. Volunteers gathered over 30 sacks of litter, showcasing the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

DENR officials said both events aim to raise awareness about the urgent need for behavioral change and policy enforcement in addressing plastic pollution.

“These activities are not just clean-ups they are statements,” said one DENR regional representative. “They reflect the spirit of collective responsibility and the power of citizen action.”

This year’s World Environment Day carries the theme “Ending Global Plastic Pollution,” emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable waste management and the elimination of plastic use in daily life. The Philippines, as one of the world’s top contributors to marine plastic waste, plays a crucial role in the international movement toward a greener planet.

Both Zamboanga and Pagadian events highlighted the value of inter-agency collaboration and community engagement in fostering long-term environmental change.

With the success of these initiatives, the DENR encouraged more cities and municipalities to hold similar activities and educate the public on the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

(Source: Philippine information Agency Western Mindanao and Zamboanga del Sur)

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