PENRO Aklan Marks Oceans Day With Underwater Cleanup

In celebration of the 2025 World Oceans Day with the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” and Philippine Environment Month themed “Ending Plastic Global Pollution,” the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 conducted activities to highlight the importance of clean oceans and the blue economy.

In Aklan province, divers from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Aklan and the local government unit (LGU) of Tangalan held a “SCUBAsorero” underwater cleanup at Coral Garden in Jawili, Tangalan on June 6.

The team collected seven kilograms of waste, including fishnets, nylon, sacks, and PET bottles, and also removed 10 crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), a known threat to coral reefs.

Due to the presence of COTS, the team agreed to conduct close monitoring of the area.

The LGU of Tangalan also committed to a monthly beach cleanup every third Saturday.

“SCUBAsorero” is an underwater cleanup initiative aimed at removing waste entangled in coral reefs and scattered on the seabed.

“It may be a small act from PENRO Aklan, but it has a big impact on the future,” said DENR-6 Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla.

“Cleaning our seabeds and removing COTS from coral reefs help preserve our blue economy and the beauty beneath the ocean’s surface,” he added.

Lorilla also reminded the public that waste—big or small—can end up in the ocean, stressing the importance of proper disposal.