ILIG Ba7ano Movement joins 2024 International Coastal Clean-Up Day

The ILIG Ba7ano Movement will join various groups in clearing trash and debris from the Villa Beach shoreline and the banks of the Iloilo Batiano River in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur to commemorate International Coastal Clean-Up Day on September 21, 2024.

Participants will assemble at 6:00 a.m. at the 8 Villa Beach House, owned by the Varona family in Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City, near Breakthrough Restaurant.

The clean-up will begin at 6:30 a.m. and continue until 10:00 a.m., running concurrently with efforts in other areas. Educational and awareness activities, as well as a trash audit for data collection, will follow.

“We initiated this global environmental effort for Villa Beach and the Batiano River in 2019,” said Ian Mayer R. Varona of 8 Villa Beach House.

“These activities have made significant progress in preserving our local marine ecosystems with the support of various partners.”

Varona encourages participants to bring reusable water bottles, sunscreen, hats, and to wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

“This is the first time for the newly formed ILIG Ba7ano to participate in the International Coastal Clean-Up in our locality,” said Mary Ann Matiling, one of the conveners of ILIG Ba7ano and a member of the environment committee of the Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants, and Resorts Association (IHRRA).

The Iloilo Batiano River Movement was established in March 2024 with the launch of ILIG Ba7ano, or the Iloilo Local Initiators Group for Batiano.

The multi-sectoral working group was formed through the Iloilo Water Resilience Initiative (IWARI), a project managed by Green Forum Panay Guimaras, which concluded in June 2024.

The movement was inaugurated at Café Gloria during the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2024, featuring exhibits, talks, and presentations that highlighted the historical, cultural, and ecological significance of the Iloilo Batiano River system.

“This is like taking baby steps for us, and we will observe the activities to understand how we can collaborate with like-minded advocates and campaigners to make our participation more meaningful and effective in the future,” added Matiling, a resident of Villa Arevalo and operator of Café Gloria.

The International Coastal Clean-Up is the world’s largest volunteer event dedicated to preserving coastlines and marine environments.

Launched by the Ocean Conservancy in 1986, it has since grown into a global event held every third week of September, bringing together citizens and environmental advocates to clean beaches, rivers, lakes, and waterways, while raising awareness about the negative impacts of debris and plastic waste on marine ecosystems.