Sustainable Marine Restoration: Scubasurero Underwater Clean-Up at IBMS

The John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU) CES  annually leads a coastal clean-up drive to restore and protect coastal and marine ecosystems. This science-based initiative removes waste from the shores, ponds, and mangrove areas of the JBLFMU Ecological Park, the Igang Bay Marine Sanctuary (IBMS), and surrounding coastal communities, promoting sustainable environmental stewardship.

On September 30, 2022, over 140 participants from JBLFMU’s six partner barangays, Poblacion, Igang, Sto. Domingo, Magamay, Pandaraonan, and Dolores, along with personnel from the PNP, MLGU, JBLFMU Ecopark, and other stakeholders, actively joined the clean-up drive. The activity was conducted in support of National Clean-Up Month, under the theme “Fighting for Trash-Free Seas Pilipinas: Ending Trash at Source.”

In tandem with the coastal clean-up, the scubasurero underwater clean-up engaged seventeen licensed scuba divers from the Philippine Coast Guard, JBLFMU, DENR-PENRO Guimaras, Guimaras Environment and Natural Resources Office, and LGU Nueva Valencia. Divers retrieved debris such as nylon strings and empty bottles from the IBMS core zones, protecting critical marine habitats.

The event also included environmental protection IEC sessions and orientations on health and safety protocols, integrating community education with hands-on conservation action. Through these activities, JBLFMU CES fosters community participation, strengthens marine ecosystem resilience, and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14, SDG 11, and SDG 3.