By Kenneth Marcos 
With gloves on and trash bags in hand, uniformed personnel and beauty queens worked side by side to clean up the Long Island shoreline of the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) last October 30, 2025.
The Civil Military Operations Group–Philippine Navy (CMOG–PN), through its Civil Affairs Unit, led the “Museum Tour and Coastal Clean-Up Activity” in partnership with candidates of Miss Earth 2025. The activity highlighted the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems and raising awareness about the effects of pollution on marine life.
Participants collected plastic waste, bottles, and other debris scattered along the mangrove areas and shoreline. The cleanup was followed by an educational tour of the LPPWP Nature Center, where volunteers learned about the park’s rich biodiversity and its role in preventing floods and serving as a sanctuary for migratory birds.
According to the Philippine Navy, the event is part of their continuing efforts to promote environmental responsibility among military personnel and the public. The Navy has long supported community projects focusing on environmental conservation, disaster response, and nation-building.
Miss Earth candidates expressed their support for the advocacy, saying that taking care of the environment goes hand in hand with the Miss Earth organization’s mission of promoting sustainable living. They emphasized that small actions, like coastal cleanups, can make a big difference when done consistently and collectively.
The Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park, declared a protected area in 2018, spans over 175 hectares of mangrove forests, mudflats, and lagoons. It serves as a natural barrier against storm surges and as a critical habitat for various bird species, including those migrating from as far as Siberia and Japan.
Environmental groups have repeatedly called on the public to help preserve the wetlands, which face threats from pollution, encroachment, and urban development. The cleanup and awareness activities led by the Navy and their partners aim to remind Filipinos that environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility.
As the participants posed for a final group photo against the backdrop of Manila Bay’s sunset, the message was clear: working together for a cleaner and greener future begins with care and action today.
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