COTABATO CITY – In celebration of Earth Day 2025, government agencies, civil society organizations, youth groups, and community volunteers came together at Timako Port in Barangay Kalanganan 2 for the “Rivers to Ocean Clean-up Day in BARMM,” a large-scale coastal clean-up drive on April 22, 2025. The event was led by Kutawato Greenland Initiatives (KGI) in partnership with the Kutawato Multi-Stakeholders for Environment and Peace Platform and the local barangay of Kalanganan 2.
Members of the Youth Engagement and Peace Building Working Group of the International Peace Youth Group (YEPW-IPYG) Cotabato Chapter actively joined the clean-up drive, further strengthening youth participation in environmental action and peacebuilding efforts.
This year’s global Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” was brought to life as over 200 volunteers worked hand in hand to clean the coastal area, collect marine debris, and promote environmental responsibility.
Coastal clean-ups are vital in protecting marine life, preserving biodiversity, and safeguarding coastal communities. Plastic waste, especially single-use items like PET bottles, often ends up in the ocean, threatening marine species and contributing to long-term environmental degradation. Clean-up efforts not only remove visible waste but also raise public awareness about pollution and the importance of sustainable waste management practices.
The activity underscored the importance of community-led solutions in environmental problems. Participants gathered various types of waste, particularly PET bottles, which were shredded on-site by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) using its mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
The clean-up was also part of the Palaw Rangers’ community engagement initiative under the InFoRCE Peace in BARMM Project, supported by The Asia Foundation’s Project WEAVE and AUSAID. It highlighted how environmental conservation and peacebuilding can intersect, empowering communities to build safer, cleaner, and more resilient environments.
