230kg Removed in Mactan Coastal Cleanup

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY SEES TRIPLE EFFORT AS 230.2 KILOGRAMS OF WASTE REMOVED FROM MACTAN’S WATERS

LAPU-LAPU, CEBU— A collective environmental effort brought volunteers, divers, government offices, and participating organizations together on September 19 for International Coastal Cleanup Day, combining shoreline and underwater cleanup activities with continued efforts to restore Mactan’s marine environment.

Held at Mactan Newtown Beach and nearby coastal areas, the initiative brought together three complementary environmental efforts: Cause for a New Coast, the coastal cleanup spearheaded by The Mactan Newtown; ScubaSurero, an underwater marine debris recovery operation; and the continued Adopt-a-Reef Initiative, which saw the installation of a new Sampaguita-shaped coral reef structure.

The activities brought together Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Feel Deep, the Lapu-Lapu City Government, The Mactan Newtown, the Philippine Coast Guard, and fellow volunteers dive groups for a collective day of action both onshore and underwater.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” Chan and Congressman Junard “Ahong” Chan, together with DENR Region 7 Regional Executive Director Laudimir Salac, were also present alongside representatives from the city government and participating organizations, highlighting the shared responsibility of communities and institutions in protecting the waters surrounding Mactan.

The effort began at 6:00 a.m. with coastal cleanup activities conducted across the barangays of Lapu-Lapu City. Savoy employees and volunteers joined the wider cleanup effort, helping remove waste from the shoreline as part of the activity.

The work continued underwater through ScubaSurero, conducted in partnership with CENRO and Feel Deep. A total of 102 divers participated in the operation, covering approximately 900 meters of coastal waters around Mactan, including areas off Mactan Newtown Beach, Maribago, and Punta Engaño.

The underwater operation recovered a total of 230.2 kilograms of marine debris. Among the most commonly collected items were miscellaneous waste such as scraps of cans and other materials, containers and plastic bottles, food wrappers, glass bottles, and other soft plastic waste.

The waste audit also revealed some unexpected items beneath the water, including a baby car seat, cellphone, wallet, plastic chair, sunglasses, and a car mat. The findings offered a tangible picture of the types of waste that can enter and accumulate in coastal waters, reinforcing the importance of continued cleanup, proper waste management, and community participation.

But the effort did not stop with what was taken away.

Through the Adopt-a-Reef Initiative, a new Sampaguita-shaped coral reef structure was installed at Mactan Newtown Beach, adding a restoration component to the day’s activities. The initiative supports efforts to create and protect marine habitats while contributing to the longer-term care of Mactan’s coastal environment.

Inspired by the sampaguita, the reef structure also reflects Savoy’s Sampaguita Brand of Service and its commitment to extending care beyond the hotel and into the surrounding community and environment. Together, the three efforts brought a broader approach to coastal conservation: cleaning what is already there, protecting the waters, and creating what can help sustain marine life in the future.

The initiative forms part of Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown’s Mindful Stays efforts, which encourage more responsible and sustainable ways of experiencing and caring for destinations.

The activities also underscored that caring for the sea takes more than a single cleanup. While removing waste addresses what has already entered the environment, long-term conservation also calls for continued protection, restoration, and collective action.

We do not just need double the effort. We need triple the effort.

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PHOTOS:

Photo 1: ATONG DAGAT, ATONG UGMA. Stakeholders and volunteers come together at Mactan Newtown Beach for International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026, reinforcing a shared commitment to cleaner shores and healthier seas.

Photo 2: TURNING WASTE INTO DATA. CENRO personnel sort marine debris recovered by 102 divers across 900 meters of Mactan’s coastal waters, totaling 230.2 kilograms. Top finds included soft plastics (178), glass bottles (105), and food wrappers (95), alongside unexpected items such as a baby car seat, cellphone, and wallet.

Photo 3: A REEF FOR TOMORROW. The newly installed Sampaguita-shaped coral reef structure takes its place underwater at Mactan Newtown Beach as part of the continuing Adopt-a-Reef Initiative, supporting efforts to restore and care for Mactan’s marine environment.