INTERNATIONAL Coastal Cleanup Day, which is held every third week of September, started as a way to raise awareness about the growing pollution on various beaches of the world. This year, Watsons enjoined its employees and supplier-partners to take part in a coastal clean-up drive in partnership with Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (Cora), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable programs to help solve global issues, including climate change and plastic pollution.
On September 17, Watsons employees and supplier-partners participated in a coastal clean-up activity in the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA).
“Watsons is a health, wellness, and beauty brand and we feel it is our obligation to look for opportunities that will make a positive impact on our customers and the communities where we are present,” said Viki Encarnacion, PR and Sustainability director at Watsons.
The Las Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism Area is a group of structures in Las Piñas that helps to communicate to the public the importance of conservation and wise use of the mangrove and other wetland areas in the 175 hectares that make up a protected area. “We were told earlier in the program that before, the garbage was two meters deep. Now, you can see the sand so there’s been progress but there’s still much work to do. We might do this again next year and hopefully, more employees will join us,” said Encarnacion.
Before the start of the clean-up activity, the participants engaged in a dance warm-up activity as part of the Get Active program. “We always encourage our employees and our partners to be more active so they’re healthier. So we thought that starting today with a warm-up was a good way to get that message across,” said Jared de Guzman, customer director at Watsons Philippines.
Ramil Horario, functional finance controller at Watsons, was one of the volunteers for the clean-up activity. “What we are doing today is a small contribution to doing good for the oceans. I grew up in a small town in Cavite and every year, even when there was no typhoon, we would be flooded because of pollution in our waterways. So I promised myself that I would help if I can and Watsons gave me a very good opportunity to do so today on International Ocean Cleanup Day,” said Horario.
The coastal clean-up activity was conducted in the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism Area, a group of structures that helps to communicate to the public the importance of conservation and wise use of the mangrove and other wetland areas in the 175 hectares that make up a protected area. “The coastal clean-up activity is part of Watsons’ Do Good efforts for the oceans. As in all our sustainability programs, we learned that we cannot do this alone. That is why we have partnered with Cora and the local government and we involved our employees and supplier-partners. We need to help each other to Do Good,” said Encarnacion.
The #CORAcleanUps Program helps remove plastic pollution from our Philippine seas and provides livelihood for the "Bakawan Warriors" waste workers that recover marine debris from Manila Bay and surrounding areas, as well as maintain the biodiversity of the LPPCHEA.
Watsons hopes that the activity will help to raise awareness and inspire the volunteers to make changes in their lifestyles. “The activity is Watsons’ way of encouraging our customers to take care of their health and the health of the planet as well,” said Encarnacion. (SPONSORED CONTENT)