VOLUNTEERS gathered six truckloads or 18 tons of garbage during Iloilo City’s “One Time, Big Time” Coastal Cleanup on March 30.

Mayor Jose Espinosa III thanked various sectors, non-government organizations, national agencies, public and private schools, and City Hall employees that supported the cleanup drive along the coastal areas from Barangay Boulevard in Molo district to Barangay Sto. Niño Sur in Arevalo district.

The city collects an average of 300 tons of garbage every day.

“The coastal cleanup raised awareness among residents especially those who are living along the shorelines on the importance of having a clean sea,” said Renan Escoto, City Environment Management specialist.

“Their main source of livelihood is also from the sea. If the sea is dirty, fishing and tourism industries will be affected. If we could not keep our coastal communities clean, our garbage will go back to us especially during typhoon,” Escoto added.

In order to sustain the cleanliness of shorelines, Escoto said the City Environment and Natural Resources Office will create a team to ensure that the shorelines will be free of garbage and penalties will be imposed to litterbugs. (PR)