From Family Tradition to Citywide Movement: Iloilo expands coastal cleanup, welcomes eco start-up Rezbin

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

What started as a simple family tradition along the shores of Villa Beach has grown into one of Iloilo’s largest environmental movements.

This year, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Iloilo expanded into a two-day event on September 20–21, mobilizing thousands of volunteers and marking a new milestone with the inclusion of award-winning eco start-up Rezbin.

Gianna Varona, organizer from 8 Villa Beach House, shared how her family’s long-running cleanup became a public initiative in 2022.

“We’ve been doing this as a family for years, but in 2022 we started inviting more people to join. Our approach has always been family-styled,” Varona said.

“What makes it special now is that the waste we collect won’t just end up in landfills. With Rezbin, it’s transformed into useful products—even the chairs we’re using today are made from recycled bottles,” she added.

Since its inception, ICC Iloilo has engaged more than 2,500 volunteers and removed over 17 tons of marine debris across six kilometers of shoreline.

Organizers also noted a decline in the volume of trash collected compared to last year, a positive sign attributed to regular interventions like the UGSAD program of Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna and the sustained coastal cleanups.

“This year we saw fewer tons of trash, and that’s a good thing. It means the regular interventions are working, and communities are becoming more responsible about waste,” said lead organizer Ian Varona.

Strong institutional partnerships reinforced the effort, with long-standing collaborators such as UP Visayas, MORE Power, Rotaract Iloilo, Aboitiz InfraCapital Water, RMN, Pepsi-Cola, and the Iloilo City General Services Office through Engr. Neil Ravena.

The Association of Barangay Captains – Arevalo Chapter, led by Hon. Francis Acap, also lent support.

UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano, a steadfast supporter of the cleanup, reminded participants that service is not a debt but a moral calling.

“We serve our communities not because we want to pay a debt to society. There is no calculation by which such a debt is ever fully paid,” Camposano said.

“We serve because doing so is a fulfillment of our true nature,” he stressed.

He also shared that UP Visayas is preparing ecological studies of Iloilo’s 19-kilometer coastline to craft science-based strategies that address climate challenges while enhancing tourism potential.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rex Sadaba, the country’s foremost expert on mangrove ecology and oil spill mitigation, emphasized the importance of restoring beach forests and using cleanup data to shape consumer behavior.

He challenged volunteers to think beyond a single day of action and build a culture of long-term coastal stewardship.

By linking local cleanup initiatives with broader sustainability frameworks, ICC Iloilo aims to align its work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bolster Iloilo City’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy — proving that food culture, community, and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.

The success of ICC 2025 is a testament to what Iloilo can achieve when public and private sectors, civic organizations, and communities work together.

The event is not just about removing trash from the shoreline — it’s about creating a lasting culture of care for shared spaces and cleaner seas for future generations.