For the first time ever, the Puerto Princesa City and the Province of Palawan are joining forces during the 40th International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) on September 20, 2025, also coinciding with Puerto Princesa’s 17th episode of its Save the Puerto Princesa Bay activity, which they described as “a united mission to protect our ocean, our coasts, and our future.”
“Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay pinangunahan ng Provincial Government of Palawan at City Government of Puerto Princesa ang adbokasiyang pangkalikasan na nagpapakita ng malasakit, pagmamahal at pangangalaga para sa kapaligiran,” the City Information Office of Puerto Princesa said.
ICC is the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health organized by Ocean Conservancy held every 3rd Saturday of September. Every ICC volunteers from different parts of the world, collect trash from coastlines while collecting data on the debris. The Save the Puerto Princesa Bays on the other hand, is a city government initiative brainchilded by Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron considered as a sustained local action demonstrating the city government’s resolve in partnership with national government agencies, key stakeholders and private sector that work cohesively and vigorously in espousing cleaner coastlines and healthier marine ecosystems.
The activity was held at the new City Public Market located in Barangay Mandaragat- designed to be a tourist-friendly destination and a modern, state of the art facility.
“Mula sa isang masaya at malabuluhang programa, isinagawa ang longest mudball throwing at sabay-sabay na naglinis at nangolekta ng mga basura sa dagat, estero at dalampasigan. Nagsawaga rin ng sabayang coastal cleanup sa coastal barangays sa buong siyudad at ilan sa mga urban barangay ay lumahok sa inter-barangay Scoop Basura,” the City Government said.
One of the event highlights was the mud ball throwing activity at Puerto Princesa City Baywalk, aimed at improving overall water quality.
Since 2016, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Puerto Princesa actively applies Effective Microorganism (EM) mudballs to the city’s coastal waters through events like mudball throwing activities.
Mudball is a low-cost technology on wastewater treatment intended to clean bodies of water using EM-1 (Effective Microorganisms-1), a microbial inoculant that encourages the growth of beneficial microbes. It is made of dried mud, EM solution, rice bran and tap water. As these beneficial microbes grow in numbers and increase their capabilities to bio-remediate water, soil and waste materials therefore fixing and restoring the water bodies’ state and quality.
The activity gather government officials and employees, including those from the national, provincial and city governments, Armed Forces, uniformed personnel and law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, private companies, barangays, education institutions and academe, students, youth, and other private sector partners.
“The activity emphasized the importance of collective action, environmental stewardship, and community involvement in protecting Puerto Princesa’s coastal resources. Organizers and participants alike reiterated that maintaining clean and healthy coastlines requires regular cleanup activities, strong advocacy on proper waste management, and continued efforts to minimize the use of single-use plastics,” the Puerto Princesa City Police Office headed by PCOL Cristine M. Tabdi, Acting City Director said.
The officials of Barangay Mandaragat on the other hand, who has been aggressive also in its campaign on segregation of solid wastes at source at segregated collection said that they are hopeful that this cohesive action will pave way for a cleaner, orderly and progressive community.
“Kami po sa Barangay Mandaragat ay taus-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat na nakikiisa. Nawa’y magsilbing inspirasyon ang ating pagkakaisa upang patuloy nating maisulong ang isang malinis, maayos, at maunlad na komunidad,” the host barangay, Barangay Mandaragat Punong Barangay Lha Gallo said.
SM City Puerto Princesa also announced that they participated in the activity in support of their continuing environmental advocacy.
“SM Supermalls remains committed in supporting and promoting environmental initiatives led by the local government, in line with its mission to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable community,” the company said in a statement.
Last year, the ICC collected a total of 26.88 tons of trash from 2,716 participants in the activity.
Coastal cleanups are essential for preserving coastal ecosystems and promoting human health. They prevent debris from entering the coastal water, which can harm marine life. Both 40TH ICC and 17 episodes of Save the Puerto Princesa Bays likewise encourages active participation from the coastal urban settlers and volunteers themselves.
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