Let’s talk about the International Coastal Cleanup Day with Coca Cola

In line with the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day that happened in various locations in different countries including the Philippines. Coca Cola is one of the companies who stood up and conducted a coastal cleaning in Baranggay Tabing Ilog in Samal, Bataan. It was raining, the road was muddy and unfriendly but the volunteers and employees of Coca Cola with its foundation and Live Positively advocates didn’t hesitate and continue their task in cleaning the mangroves of Tabing Ilog. Of course, being a Live Positively advocate of Coca Cola I am present on this annual coastal cleaning and the rest of their advocacy event.

The ICC Day was an initiative of Ocean Conservancy that dedicates a one day activity for environmental advocates and volunteers to eradicate litter and debris from beaches, inland waterways and oceans. Being 28% of the collected garbage in the coastal area and under the sea were beverage-related products such as tin can, plastic and glass cups and bottles, caps and lids, Coca Cola launched a multi-year partnership with the Ocean Conservancy last 2008 with $1 million pledge to support the ICC. Last year, Coca Cola contributed more than 200,000 hours of volunteer time and collecting nearly 400,000 pounds of trash with 26,000 Coca-Cola system associates, their friends and families around the world joining the ICC project.

Going back to the Samal, Bataan the rain didn’t stop the dedication of every volunteer of Coca Cola to fulfill their task. It was good to see fellow bloggers, friends from agency that I partnered with like the MRM Worldwide which is the digital arm of McCann Worldgroup Philippines, and of course my Coca Cola Live Positively who introduced me to the community projects from Brigada Eskwela, Public School-Nutrijuice initiatives, Watershed and Forest conversation and now their coastal cleaning project. I already did coastal cleaning projects before but the thing that I like the most this year is seeing the passion and fun that ignites in every volunteer despite of the continuous rain, long walk on the muddy and narrow road.

It was my first time to visit Bataan, the area is now semi-commercialize and agricultural. The growth of their economy is based from fishing and rice crops at the same time they have popular resorts like the Anvaya Cove and Camaya Coast. The province of Bataan is also prominent during the times of World War II prior to the Japanese invasion on 1941. With this make it historically rich along with the natural resources that the land and sea offers. This ICC activity of Coca Cola through their Live Positively Campaign exposes every employee, volunteers and even the residents of Bataan the importance of marine conservation and protection by helping to clean up the coastal area and the mangroves where most of their marine resources are found and lastly the responsibility of proper disposal of their garbage rather just throwing it anywhere including the rivers and seas.

The International Coastal Clean Up is just a one day activity, but it is a statement that we have a responsibility to do to conserve and protect our natural resources not just for ourselves bur for generations to come. Like the narrow muddy road and the heavy rain that we encounter this morning it shows that it is a long rough road to fulfill this but if we are really passionate enough to do this and move as a group everything will be done perfectly. So enough ranting and do your part and Live Positively!

Click here to see more photos of the Coca Cola International Coastal Clean Up in Bataan.