Over 1,600 Volunteers Join 2025 International Coastal Cleanup in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A total of 1,674 volunteers gathered along RT Lim Boulevard on Saturday, September 20, 2025, to take part in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), an annual global initiative that mobilizes communities to combat plastic pollution and protect marine ecosystems.

Volunteers from government agencies, local government units, schools, private organizations, law enforcement, and civil society groups worked side by side to clear the shoreline of plastic waste and debris. Beyond restoring cleaner coasts, the activity also contributed vital data for global studies and advocacy efforts against marine litter.

Observed every third Saturday of September across more than 100 countries, this year’s ICC carried the theme “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis,” highlighting the need for ocean-based solutions to strengthen climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IX expressed appreciation to all participants, emphasizing that collective action remains key in driving meaningful change. “Your commitment and time are a powerful reminder that when individuals come together for a cause greater than themselves, real progress is possible,” the agency said in a statement.

Source | PIA Western Mindanao 

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