Balete, Batangas – September 20, 2025. The University of Batangas Lipa City (UBLC), through its Community Extension Services, actively participated in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) 2025 on September 20, 2025 at Balete, Batangas. Over 378 students from various colleges and programs, alongside faculty members and employees, joined hands with the Local Government of Balete, supported by government agencies including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). The effort aligned UBLC with the global mission to combat marine debris and promote ocean conservation.
The International Coastal Cleanup, organized globally by Ocean Conservancy, has been a unifying movement since 1986. With the guiding vision “A healthy ocean. A thriving planet,” Ocean Conservancy has mobilized more than 18 million volunteers worldwide, collecting over 380 million pounds of trash from coastlines, rivers, and waterways. Its science-based and community-driven approach empowers individuals and organizations to take responsibility for marine ecosystems.
The ICC was first introduced in the Philippines through partnerships with local governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and volunteers. Today, International Coastal Cleanup Philippines, a non-profit organization based in Pasay City, spearheads nationwide coordination. It continues to champion environmental education, waste management advocacy, and marine debris awareness campaigns with the goal of fostering healthy oceans, rivers, and lakes for both people and marine wildlife.
For UBLC, the initiative highlighted the university’s continuing commitment to environmental protection and community partnership. Students not only removed trash from the shores but also contributed to data collection on marine debris, echoing Ocean Conservancy’s belief that every action, no matter how small, contributes to global change.
The ICC traces its roots to a grassroots initiative in 1986 when Linda Maraniss and Kathy O’Hara of Ocean Conservancy rallied volunteers in Texas to clean coastlines and document the waste they collected. From its humble beginnings with 2,800 volunteers, the movement has grown into a worldwide campaign that mobilizes communities to protect the ocean that sustains life.
As part of this year’s ICC, UBLC reaffirmed its role as an advocate for sustainability, encouraging students to recognize their shared responsibility in caring for the environment. By joining millions of volunteers across the globe, UBLC made a powerful statement, protecting the ocean is not just a duty, but a collective legacy for future generations.