Today, 23 September 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard through the Marine Environmental Protection Command conducted a simultaneous beach clean-up activity nationwide in celebration of the “𝑯𝑨𝑪𝑮𝑨𝑴 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏-𝒖𝒑 𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯” at Manila Bay, Dolomite Beach, Roxas Boulevard, Manila and other coastal areas in the Philippines through the help of MEPForces.
𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐇𝐀𝐂𝐆𝐀𝐌) is an annual meeting composed of 22 countries including the Philippines, 1 participating region and the ReCAAP and UNODC. Their aim is to promote cooperation, resulting in a safer environment and better relationships among member of the organizations with a motto: “𝑬𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆, 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔”.
The activity was participated by CG CAPT PATRICK G BABAG, Commander of Marine Environmental Protection Offshore Patrol (MEPOP) together with representatives from Headquarters, MEPCOM, National Operations Center for Oil Pollution (NOCOP), Coast Guard District National Capital Region-Central Luzon (CGDNCR-CL), Coast Guard Aviation Force (CGAF) and MEPForce NCR-CL.
Also, present on the activity was the Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for International Affairs, CG COMMO ALGIER D RICAFRENTE, who actively participated in the event and set an exemplary commitment to the members and participants. His active involvement underscores the leadership and dedication of the Philippine Coast Guard in promoting the goals of HACGAM, particularly in ensuring safe, secure, and clean seas.
A total of 609 sacks of garbage were collected nationwide during the clean-up drive, ranging from single-use wrappers, bottles, sachets, washed-out water hyacinth, and tree branches.
The said activity aims to highlight and bring to public attention the continuing advocacy of the HACGAM members to promote the importance of 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 the marine environment and mitigate the effects of climate change in Asian Region.
#MEPCOM@25
