SMC extends coastal cleanup to Batangas

SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) said on Tuesday that it had taken its coastal clean-up drive to Calatagan and Balayan in Batangas province, and that it was preparing to start a similar drive in Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system in Bulacan.

In a statement, the company said a total of 1,340 bags of garbage were initially collected from the coastal areas of the two Batangas towns during a five-day clean-up effort backed by SMC and the government.

The effort is through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program of the Department of Labor and Employment.

“We recognize that to be able to help save our waterways from litter, we need to address the issue of pollution at its source. But these cleanups do make a big difference especially in shaping the way people interact with the environment. Also, that one piece of trash we remove means one less litter that could end up in our waterways,” SMC President and Chief Executive Ramon S. Ang said.

SMC has mobilized volunteers and has provided cleaning supplies, protective gear, and food for the participants. It is also raising awareness among coastal communities about proper waste disposal.

The company has also committed to helping set up a materials recovery facility (MRF) for five barangays in Calatagan to recover recyclable materials and cut the amount of waste that end up in the waterways.

Meanwhile, SMC said it holds weekly clean-up activities in Isla Pulo in Navotas together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Isla Pulo is home to the Tanza Marine Tree Park, a 26-hectare mangrove strip of an island with a 3.5-kilometer shoreline, which also serves as a natural barrier that protects nearby cities from storm surges and coastline erosion,” SMC said.

Mr. Ang said the coastal clean-up activities in Batangas are on a weekly basis and with greater urgency as the province’s waters are close to the Verde Island Passage, a strait between the main island of Luzon and Mindoro known for its rich marine biodiversity.

“Keeping plastic waste from our seas and oceans will also protect our source of food and the fishermen who depend on these for their livelihood. In partnership with local and government agencies, we need to continuously educate our coastal communities on the importance of proper waste disposal as well as recycling and upcycling of waste products,” he said.

SMC will also start cleaning up while improving the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system, which it described as a major component of its flood mitigation initiative for Bulacan, and Taliptip while building the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan town.

It said for its P1-billion Tullahan-Tinajeros river system rehabilitation project, the company removed 640,384 metric tons of silt and solid waste to date.