BUTUAN CITY — The ocean does not clean itself. On June 7, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources led a coastal cleanup in Barangay Masao, Butuan City. Volunteers collected trash, sorted waste, and raised awareness about marine conservation. It was a Sunday morning well spent.
The Activity
Volunteers gathered at the shoreline, equipped with gloves, bags, and determination. They collected plastic bottles, fishing nets, and other debris, sorting recyclables from landfill waste. More than 236 volunteers participated, covering an estimated 600-meter stretch of the Masao shoreline. Their efforts resulted in the collection of 68 sacks of waste weighing approximately 406.9 kilograms. The waste collected included 141.4 kilograms of plastics, 21.1 kilograms of plastic bottles, 91 kilograms of glass bottles, 17.5 kilograms of clothes and fabric, 3.9 kilograms of aluminum cans, and 132 kilograms of other waste materials. The "residuals" category: 141.4 kilograms of non‑recyclable and non‑compostable waste, highlights materials that would otherwise end up in landfills if not properly managed. The collected waste was turned over to the Butuan City Environment and Natural Resources Department for proper disposal.
The Purpose
The cleanup aimed to "raise awareness about marine conservation, promote environmental stewardship, and encourage collective action to reduce marine litter." That is a mouthful, but the goal is simple: keep trash out of the ocean. The activity was held in observance of World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle Day, both celebrated in June to highlight the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.
The Community Response
Barangay Masao residents turned out in force, families, students, local officials. A cleanup that is community-led, not just DENR-led, has a better chance of sustaining habits beyond a single event. The cleanup was spearheaded by DENR Caraga, PENRO Agusan del Norte, CENRO Nasipit, and EMB Caraga, in partnership with SM City Butuan and other stakeholders including the Butuan City Government, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Rotary Central Butuan, KBP Butuan Chapter, Father Saturnino Urios University, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, BXU Runners Club, Saint Joseph Institute of Technology, Diamond Transportation Service Cooperative, and Chooseday Zumba Group. This broad coalition of partners demonstrates the growing commitment to environmental protection across multiple sectors of Butuan society.
