TROOPS of the 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB) participated on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in the Region-Wide Simultaneous Plogging Activity in celebration of World Environment Day 2025, demonstrating its commitment to environmental protection and community partnership.
The activity was held in the town of Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur, and was spearheaded by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)-Guipos.
"As soldiers, our duty is not only to secure our people but also to safeguard the natural resources that sustain them. Participating in World Environment Day reminds us that true service means protecting both life and land," Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Vargas Jr., 53IB commander, said in a statement.
"Through small yet meaningful actions, such as plogging, we help raise awareness and inspire collective responsibility in preserving the environment," Vargas added.
World Environment Day, first established by the United Nations in 1972 and celebrated every June 5, serves as a global call to action for the protection and restoration of planet Earth.
The 2025 observance highlights the growing crisis of plastic pollution, which continues to threaten marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being.
Plogging highlighted the fusion of physical fitness and environmental advocacy, a sustainable activity that involves jogging while collecting litter, especially single-use plastics.
By joining the activity, the 53IB demonstrated that its service extends beyond military duties. It encompasses nation-building and environmental sustainability.
Felipe Gallorina, head of Cenro-Guipos, commended the support and dedication shown by the troops of the 53IB, saying their active involvement set an inspiring example of how the security sector can lead by example in environmental conservation.
This year's global theme, "Ending Global Plastic Pollution," was powerfully echoed by the local slogan, "Lihok ug Punit: Limpyo'ng Palibot, Alang sa Kalikupan."
The theme encouraged communities to take proactive steps toward achieving a cleaner, healthier environment. (SunStar Zamboanga)