By Kathlene Joyce C. Ramones-PIA
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – La Union’s famous surf town of San Juan is known for its waves, sunsets, and thriving local businesses — but on International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day, it became a symbol of a bigger battle: protecting the seas that sustain its people.
On September 20, volunteers from Barangays Urbiztondo to Panicsican collected nearly 194 kilograms of trash — mostly cigarette butts, liquor bottles, foam fragments, and single-use plastic packaging.
Over 300 participants from government agencies, schools, civic groups, and local barangays joined forces, proving that when a community acts together, it can make a visible difference in just a few hours.
But the message of the day went beyond filling trash bags.
For the Provincial Government–Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO), the clean-up is only a starting point.
“Coastal clean-ups are temporary solutions. What makes a lasting impact is when people take the lesson home — choosing reusables, refusing single-use plastics, and managing their waste properly,” said Diana Jutba, senior environmental management specialist of PG-ENRO.
The event’s impact was personal for student advocate Gliyan Antonio of Sto. Gliyan Antonio, a student advocate from Sto. Rosario National High School, participated in the clean-up.
“I saw how much trash has piled up in the sea and along the shore. It was alarming, but it reminded me that we can still make a difference if we start with self-discipline in managing our waste,” Antonio said.
Marine litter is more than an eyesore — it threatens the tourism industry, fishing livelihoods, and marine life that coastal towns like San Juan depend on.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic pollution kills thousands of marine animals yearly and contributes to declining fish stocks, a direct hit to communities relying on the sea for food and income.
Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega, through Special Assistant Marc Cristopher Ortega, thanked participants for showing La Union’s trademark “agkakaysa,” or unity.
“This collective action proves that we can protect our environment if we work together. The cleanliness of our seas is a legacy we must pass on to the next generation,” Ortega said.
The clean-up was not limited to San Juan.
Simultaneous efforts were held across La Union, reinforcing the province’s commitment to ICC, which is observed every third Saturday of September under Proclamation No. 470 (2003).
While the nearly 200 kilograms of waste removed is significant, local officials emphasized that the real victory lies in changing daily habits.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and eco-bags, say no to single-use plastics, segregate waste at home, and join monthly coastal clean-ups.
For La Union, protecting the ocean means protecting its identity as the Surfing Capital of the North.
Each cigarette butt refused, each plastic bag replaced, and each volunteer hour given is a step toward cleaner waves, healthier coasts, and a future where tourism and marine life thrive side by side. (AMB/KJCR, PIA La Union)
