With the theme, "Buhayin at Ipaglaban! Malinis na Katubigan ng Bayan", the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with other Local Government Units and the City of Manila as the host city, launched the 22nd International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day at Manila Baywalk, Roxas Blvd. on the 3rd Saturday of the month, September 15, 2007 at exactly 7 o'clock a.m. The clean-up drive was carried out in advocacy to the coastal clean-up initiatives of the Ocean Conservancy, known as an international center for environmental education based in Washington, DC USA.

Among the participating agencies were from the Local Government, NGOs and the Academe. Namely, the Local Government Environment Offices (ENROs), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), The Philippine Coast Guard and its Auxiliaries, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), NSTP (National Service Training Program) students from different Colleges and Universities (TUP Manila, UE, PUP, CEU, San Beda College, St. Mary's College, San Sebastian College Recoletes Manila, FEU and UMAK), Uniliver Co., Shell Gas Co., Petron Gas Co., YAMAHA Motors Co., and World CARP Philippines-NCR Region through its service-oriented project, B.K.K.B. (Bayanihang Kabataan Para sa Kaunlaran ng Bayan).

The ICC started in 1986 when a staff in Ocean Conservancy organized a team who conducted a clean-up drive that cleared 124 tons of trash that littered the shores of South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Since then, the initiative was advocated by many state governments. It expanded presently to 100 countries participating simultaneously every year. As per record, an estimated 8 million pounds of debris from thousand miles of coastline and waterways were cleared. The Philippines joined the International Coastal Clean-up Day in 1994 under the sanction of Presidential Proclamation No. 244 ( 06 September 1994 ), declaring the month of September of every year as the national clean-up month. It was further supported by another Presidential Proclamation No. 470 (15 September 2003), declaring every third Saturday of September of every year as International Coastal Clean-up Day.

Both events are global initiatives involving clean-up activities of the coastlines and waterways. They only require voluntary involvement of communities and various stakeholders. Their educational emphasis rests on campaigns to refocus the mindsets of people towards the protection of the environment. Locally, the country's coordinator for the said event is the International Marine-life Alliance (IMA). Since its participation, more than 3,000 volunteers cleared the Philippine shorelines and underwater sites, consistently topping up the ICC, in terms of volunteer turn-out. Nevertheless, the Philippines has been recognized as the clean-up capital of the world.

The recent local event was facilitated by the Manila City Hall. Dr. Florida C. Labuguen, Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Extension Service Director, National President of Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and Implementers and at the same time, W-CARP Philippines'TUP Chapter Adviser said in the invocation. The occasion was graced with music with the Manila City Hall Band playing the National Anthem.

On behalf of Manila Mayor Lim, Col. Carlos Baltazar,the City Department Head warmly welcomed the participants with a very short speech. Added more, in his message on behalf of DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, Hon. Demetrio Ignacio, Undersecretary, DENR, stressed the importance of working together for a clean environment since after all, the littered rubbish were all our own common making and to gain learning experiences through the project particularly towards proper environmental care.

He averred that the rain showers were God's blessings and thus, it's a delightful thing to be participating in the event even though. Commodore Arturo Olavario, Commander Marine Environmental Protection Command also delivered an enlightening speech. A brief overview on ICC was conducted by Robert S. Jara, Program Coordinator Coastal and Marine Management Office. The participants were introduced and acknowledged by Ms. Erlinda A. Gonzales, Project Manager, Manila Bay Environmental Management Project. The area in Manila Baywalk extended from Manila Yacht Club to US embassy, designating numbered area for each participating agency. On the other hand, W-CARP-BKKB volunteers were assigned in Area 10 and 11 which are near to the US embassy.

Moreover, said activity was an optimum venue for W-CARP Philippines to reach out to possible candidates for Collegiate Ambassadors for Peace in connection with its overall goal to develop CAP as a strategic approach to build mass movement and also in response to W-CARP's advocacy of the UN's MDG #7, that is, to ensure environmental sustainability. W-CARP was the only campus-based student organization that was able to convene with other agencies in celebrating the ICC day.

This was made possible through the recommendation of Dr. Florida C. Labuguen in agreement with W-CARP Philippines National President, Dr. Aldrin Nituma. She commented, "I think this activity is a good start of collaboration between and among different agencies strengthening the cleanliness campaign of the international coastlines and coming up with sustainable environmental friendly projects. Therefore, I commend it must be done continuously in order to maintain the efforts started by many agencies.

And this is also one way of developing and strengthening the youth's civic consciousness and it naturally guides them to become responsible citizens and change catalysts of our nation.

For this, I am very grateful for W-CARP Philippines for being an active partner in helping to realize, harnessing and redirecting our youth's potentials towards a greater purpose." W-CARP Philippines sent its ICC BKKB volunteers from the Integrated NCR chapters and students from UTS-Asia. They were accompanied by W-CARP Philippines VP for Education, Witnessing and Outreach, Dr. Edmon Pacson.

Though challenged with sudden heavy downpour of rain, the ICC BKKB volunteers were not intimidated with their intent to take part of saving our shorelines. They never stopped working yet even more encouraged to dig in and dig out heavily heaped mixed garbage. They kept their fire up by cheers of encouragement to work and inspiring songs that energized the volunteers to keep working. This made the BKKB volunteers specially different from the other volunteers. A heart of unconditional service, enthusiasm and relentless energy rendered by BKKB volunteers made the event a meaningful and purposeful experience.

Nevertheless, the power of unity, sincerity and combined efforts of each agency and organization droved the event to success. According to Matthew S. Chua, Supreme Student Government - President of TIP Manila and a BKKB volunteer, "I am so glad to have attended this activity. I really love to engage myself to public service. Although it was raining so hard, it was worth it. I even enjoyed it a lot with the rain. More so, positively the unity and support among the volunteers with each other."