PENRO Aklan celebrates Oceans Day, conducts SCUBAsorero

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

In the province of Aklan, the divers of Provincial ENR Office of Aklan and the Local Government Unit (LGU) Tangalan conducted “SCUBAsorero” in Coral Garden, Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan on June 06, 2025.

The team collected seven (7) kilograms of waste, composed of fishnets, nylon, sacks, and PET bottles, and also collected ten (10) Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) which is considered as a problem damaging the coral reefs. Since the area has COTS, the team agreed to closely monitor it. Likewise, LGU Tangalan committed to conducting a beach clean-up every third Saturday of every month.

“SCUBAsorero,” is an underwater clean-up to reduce wastes entangled in coral reefs and lodged on the seabed.

“It may be one small act from PENRO Aklan, but it has a bigger impact for the future. Cleaning our seabeds and clearing COTS in our coral reefs is one way to preserve our blue economy and the beauty that lies in our ocean floor,” DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla said.

“Let this be a reminder to all of us that our waste, whether big or small might end up in our ocean, thus proper waste disposal is a must,” he cited.