Nestlé Philippines and GMA Network have teamed up for the nationwide coastal cleanup at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) “to tackle the plastic waste crisis in the country.”
Dubbed the “Kapuso at Kambuhay ng Kalikasan,” Kais Marzouki, Nestlé chairman and chief executive officer, underscored how important sustainability is for them as a company. “As you know, we will be plastic neutral for a couple of years.”
Marzouki said: “We have collected 52 million kilos of plastic waste and diverted them from the environment through co-processing.”
“The company is pleased that it has continued on this journey as well as made strides and efforts in sustainability,” he also said.
He stressed it was not how many kilos they picked up during that initiative, rather “we all felt with our sweat, bodies and minds how big the task of sustainability is.”
He noted that every effort and every little step counts, and individuals can make a difference at the end of the day.
Kapuso stars took a break from glitz and glamour for the coastal cleanup. Joy Marcelo, Sparkle GMA Artist Center assistant vice president, mentioned the importance of the cleanup activities.
“Protecting the environment is a cherished value of the television network,” Marcelo said, adding they do what they can to help inform and educate — in the news that they report as well as programs they present.
Robert Borje, Climate Change Commission secretary, said the Philippines has the fifth longest coastline in the world, and that is something that Filipinos should be proud of.
“But it also makes us realize that we have an important responsibility toward nature,” Borje also said. “Human beings are responsible for climate change and they have the important role to be stewards of our environment.”
“When we clean up, protect, and manage our coastline, we protect ourselves as well,” he pointed out.
Pure Oceans, led by its founder and chief executive officer Pia Ocampo, shared some important instructions and reminders for the participants.
Ocampo cited the importance of LPPCHEA. “It is a critical habitat for bird life; one of the last remaining protected areas for mangroves. It has one of the biggest biodiversity for mussels and shellfish,” she said.
Every piece of plastic one picks up from the beach is one piece of coral he or she is saving. Every piece of plastic they retrieve is one person and also one bird they are saving from the ill effects of plastic pollution, she explained.
A total 1,307 kilograms of plastic waste has been collected by 207 participants during the said initiative.
