SM by the Bay and SM Mall of Asia is set to hold the global celebration of the 34th International Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 21 to spread awareness in keeping the coastline clean for generations to come.
This is in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region office, International Coastal Cleanup Philippines, Pasay City and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Philippine Coast Guard, and SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
To be held at the Central Park of the bay area inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, the International Coastal Cleanup is one of the biggest events of SM by the BAY to support its advocacy in caring for the environment.
This year’s coastal cleanup is expected to encourage thousands of volunteers to participate and show their concern for the environment in cleaning the coastal stretch of the SM by the BAY. Through the years, participants have come from different sectors of the society including students, firemen, policemen, teachers, athletes, SM employees and many more.
Paired volunteers will be assigned to different stations wherein one will serve sas the collector and other, the tabulator. Data collected will then be forwarded to Ocean Conservancy for final tabulation.
The coastal cleanup supports UN Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water, which aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, and safeguard them from all kinds of harmful land-based activities.
In fact, the 2019 ICC Philippines poster includes a turtle entangled in fishing net, which was inspired from an event last August 10, 2019, where a Green Sea Turtle was rescued near the coast of Manila Bay. That image serves as a reminder on the damaging effects if our activities are left unchecked and coasts remained unkempt.
“Each year, tons of garbage wind up in the oceans, with 60% being composed of plastic material. These are very hazardous to marine life. Now more than ever, the effects of climate change are seen and felt everywhere. We only have one earth; let’s get involved in putting an end to marine pollution for future generations,” said Perkin So, Senior Assistant Vice President of SM Mall of Asia, who will lead the hundreds of SM volunteers for the cleanup.
Since 2015, SM By the BAY’s regular coastal cleanup initiative has already collected 682,000 kilograms of garbage, in more than 5,000 trash bags, and supported by close to 9,000 volunteers.
Other environment and sustainability programs of SM include SM by the BAY’s quarterly cleanup drive; Solar panel rooftop installations which promote the use of clean energy; Water recycling treatment for all malls wherein all recycled water is used back for non-potable and industrial needs; the Automated Weather Stations; the monthly Trash-to-Cash Recycling Market; and the Green Film Festival, to name a few.
As a responsible member of the community, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change in the communities that it supports.
