By Kenneth Marcos 
On a humid Saturday morning, the shores of Navotas City came alive not with waves, but with the footsteps of volunteers—each one carrying gloves, sacks, and the hope of a cleaner sea. This was not just an ordinary cleanup—it was part of the International Coastal Cleanup 2025, a global movement that brought hundreds of Filipinos together for one urgent goal: to protect the ocean.
Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), the cleanup took place at the Tanza Marine Tree Park (TMTP), a vital coastal ecosystem in Metro Manila. The event gathered around 270 volunteers from government agencies, private companies, and civil society groups.
By the end of the activity, teams had collected over 3,181 kilos of trash, equivalent to more than 500 sacks of waste—ranging from plastic wrappers and bottles to old fishing nets and debris that have polluted the coastline for years.
Among those who joined were representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Internal Revenue – Caloocan, and the MMDA Navotas Office. Also present were senior officials from the DENR Central Office, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), River Basin Control Office (RBCO), and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).
During a short program, Mr. Justin de Ramos, head of the DENR-NCR Coastal Resources and Foreshore Management Section, emphasized the importance of united action.
“TMTP is one of the few remaining coastal ecosystems in Metro Manila. We all have a duty to protect it,” de Ramos said. “This collective effort proves that positive change is possible when we work together.”
The Tanza Marine Tree Park plays a crucial role in the city’s natural defense. It serves as a buffer zone against storm surges and flooding, especially during typhoon season. The park is also home to a variety of marine life, including migratory birds and even sea turtles—making it an important area for both biodiversity and climate adaptation.
With the theme “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis,” this year’s International Coastal Cleanup focuses not only on waste removal but also on spreading awareness about the link between ocean pollution and the climate emergency.
This cleanup is also part of the wider Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program, a government initiative aimed at restoring the bay’s ecological health. The program encourages multi-sectoral and community-based action, recognizing that long-term environmental protection requires everyone’s participation—from policymakers to residents.
The event in Navotas is just one of many across the country that shows how collective effort, no matter how small, can have a large impact when it comes to saving our environment.
As the sacks of trash were hauled away and the coastline cleared, volunteers left not just with tired hands but with a renewed commitment to protect what remains of our precious seas.
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