Corporate Social Responsibility Davao Light Cleanergy Sustainability Scubasurero Pawikan

SCUBAsureros clean up the sea of pawikan sanctuary

August 22, 2022

The Philippine Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao kicked off its month-long anniversary celebration by conducting an underwater clean up at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park last July 30, 2022. The SCUBAsureros collected soft drink cans and plastic pieces of cellophane among other non-biodegradable trash during their dive at the marine sanctuary.

More than 200 participants from the Philippine Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary District Southeastern Mindanao (CGADSEM), Climate Change Commission of the Office of the President, and other private groups collected more than 20 sacks of trash after their coastal clean-up activity.

“Since it has become a haven for the [endangered hawksbill sea] turtles, we have to help maintain the area,” Aux. Vice Admiral Beethoven N. Sur of CGADSEM expresses support for the conservation efforts for the endangered hawksbill sea turtles which often lay eggs at the park.

The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park is managed by AboitizPower subsidiary, Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. It also serves as a rescue center facility for endangered sea turtles. Since 2014, various public and private organizations have committed to supporting the park through activities such as tree planting and coastal clean up.

“It’s not just the responsibility of the coast guard, or the local government unit (LGU), or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - it is everybody’s responsibility to [conserve] the environment and the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles,” Commodore Agapito Bibat, Commander of the Coast Guard Southeastern Mindanao, said to the media during the coastal cleanup activity.

The CGADSEM and 819th Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary commit to supporting the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park which was made official through a signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) last July 8, 2022.

The Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., in partnership with Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., continues its efforts to conserve the environment in line with one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which is to protect life below water like the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtles.