SM commits to creating new waves with a record-breaking International Coastal Clean-Up. (From left)  Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Organizational Transformation and Human Resources Augusto Dela Pena, SM Mall of Asia senior assistant vice president for Mall Operations Perkin So, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, SM Cares program director for Environment and Sustainability Liza Silerio, Pasay City Congressman Antonino Calixto, and Nestlé Philippines head of Corporate Affairs Joey Uy at SM’s International Coastal Clean-Up at the SM by the Bay at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, one of the 15 SM malls on Sept. 21, 2024. A total of 135,000 kilograms of trash were  removed by over 23,000 volunteers in the area.

The Philippines surpassed its International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) records during the activity conducted last Saturday in 250 coastal sites across the country, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR said in a statement yesterday from 35,000 volunteers last year, it recorded 74,075 volunteers from 1,913 government, academe and private sector organizations.

Volunteers collected a total of 352,479 kilograms of trash and debris, ranging from plastics to other waste materials during the cleanup.

DENR said data gathered during the cleanup will be compiled to better understand the types of waste affecting the country’s waters to guide future conservation, waste recovery and resource utilization strategies.  The collected trash that can be recycled will be brought to the nearest local materials recovery facility.

The agency said the ICC is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the world with over 150 participating countries and millions of volunteers each year. 

Meanwhile, the  Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) one of the agencies that  joined ICC, said it   continues implementing initiatives to promote sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of its port operations.

These initiatives align with broader goals to integrate renewable energy, decarbonize operations, and adopt environmentally friendly practices while adhering to international standards, PPA said.