More than 107,000 Filipinos joined the 2014 International Coastal Cleanup
More than 107,000 Filipinos joined the 2014 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) last September 20 & 27, 2014. Although total participation went down by 29% due to a weather disturbance, we are acknowledged as one of the top ten countries in the 2014 ICC. Cleanup volunteers poured in beaches, coasts, rivers, waterways and underwater seas from 29 provinces and 350 cleanup sites to participate in this symbolic event. Zambales was No. 1 among top ten provinces in terms of volunteer turnout, followed by Cebu, NCR, Batangas, Surigao del Sur, Pangasinan, Cavite, Negros Occidental, Quezon and Catanduanes. An estimated 14,828 bags of trash weighing 189,245.54 kilos were collected and 287.04 kilometers covered during beach/shoreline, waterway, underwater and watercraft cleanups. Of the total categorized debris items collected, about 67% belonged to the “Top Ten Debris” – a list of the most prevalent trash found in all the cleanups. Food wrappers (41%), cigarette butts (11%), ot