One Ocean, One Mission. A volunteer diver from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) joins a Scubasurero expedition in the TVI power plant jetty in Toledo City, Cebu.
Toledo City, Cebu — As Earth Month rolls around every April, it signifies another Scubasurero dive, and this year nearly 11,500 kilograms of marine waste have been collected to date through this sustained coastal and underwater clean-up initiative led by Therma
Visayas, Inc. (TVI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), in partnership with local organizations, volunteers, and government agencies.
The latest clean-up, held on April 24 at Barangay Bato, Toledo City, continues the program’s mission of protecting marine biodiversity in the Tañon Strait, while rallying communities towards greater environmental responsibility.
Visible Progress, Measurable Impact. A volunteer diver from TVI retrieves residual waste from the seabed during the latest Scubasurero dive below TVI’s jetty. Only 35 kilograms of marine trash was collected this time around — down from 408 kilograms in 2022 — indicating growing environmental awareness and action in the community.
In 2022, the company adopted and expanded Scubasurero — a portmanteau of the words “scuba diving” and “basurero” or garbage collector — as an official environmental program to serve as a practical solution aligned with TVI’s focus on marine protection and responsible operations.
“Scubasurero is a reflection of what we can achieve when people come together for a common cause and how it can lead to real, lasting impact,” said Emalyn Sevilla, Environmental Supervisor of TVI. “Our work beneath the waves is just one part of a bigger picture — one where businesses, communities, and institutions unite to care for the environment we all rely on.”
A Unified Effort. Volunteer divers, including Leo Jay Canonigo (center) from Toledo Spearo and local fisherfolks, emerge from the latest Scubasurero dive in the TVI power plant jetty in Toledo City.
Since its launch, the program has seen a steady decline in collected plastic waste, a strong indicator of increasing environmental awareness and involvement from residents, fisherfolk, and civil society groups. This decline is particularly evident in this latest clean-up, where only 35 kilograms of marine trash was collected, significantly lower than the 408 kilograms removed in 2022.
This Scubasurero dive was made possible through the unified efforts of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (DENR-TSPS), Philippine Coast Guard, Toledo Spearo, local fisherfolk, and the Toledo United Farmers, Fishermen, and Women Workers (TUFFWOW), highlighting the collaborative spirit essential for meaningful environmental action during Earth Month and beyond.
