The recent Shore It Up campaign of Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Inc. drew 145 volunteer scuba divers who collected 616 kilograms of garbage from various dive spots in Puerto Galera.
Puerto Galera, one of the country’s top diving spots, is regarded by conservationists as the “center of the center of marine biodiversity” with its remarkable profusion of aquatic life in the heart of the world’s “Coral Triangle” in Southeast Asia.
To care for its seas and rich marine ecosystem, the municipal government and the Metro Pacific sealed a partnership for the Shore It Up program.
The corporate social responsibility arm of the MVP Group of Companies has committed P1.5 million for three years under its Shore It Up program to provide aid to local Bantay Dagat in the form of technical know-how, monthly allowances, uniforms, and scuba diving courses and equipment to better protect and conserve the town’s aquatic resources.
To be called Marine Protection, Inspection and Conservation Guardians, the volunteers will also be empowered by the municipal government in their marine enforcement and monitoring activities.
The conglomerate made its initial foray into Puerto Galera in 2010 when it pioneered a comprehensive underwater and coastal cleanup drive, followed up in 2013 by another scuba cleanup and the Junior Environmental Scouts, an education component for public school children.
Incepted in 2009, Shore It Up has gathered over 85,000 volunteers from the Metro Pacific firms, national government agencies, local government units, law enforcement agencies, civil society groups, dive industry stakeholders, and public elementary schools.
The program has been held in key coastal areas such as Mabini (Batangas), Alaminos City (Pangasinan), Del Carmen (Surigao del Norte), Medina (Misamis Oriental), Panglao (Bohol), Cordova (Cebu), and Subic Bay.
