The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is urging Filipinos to address waste at its source as the country is set to hold the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) on Saturday in 17 regions nationwide.

DENR Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Rochelle Elena Gamboa on Friday said the annual cleanup should not focus only on the effort to collect as much trash as possible, but on the change the initiative could create.

“Cleaner seas begin with responsible waste management at home, in our schools, workplaces, and communities. As we unite under the theme ‘Clean Seas for Resilient Communities,’ the DENR encourages everyone to take part in this nationwide effort,” Gamboa told the Philippine News Agency.

The DENR said thousands of volunteers nationwide are expected to clear trash from coastlines, rivers and waterways.

The ICC will bring together DENR offices, local government units, communities, volunteers and private-sector partners in a simultaneous cleanup of marine litter.

The nationwide activity will be led by the DENR at Baseco Beach in Port Area, Manila as the flagship site, and will coincide with the celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) 2026.

An “Upcycle & Circularity Expo” will also be held at Baseco Beach, in partnership with companies registered to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, including Producer Responsibility Organizations, social enterprises, local micro, small and medium enterprises and waste-to-resource innovators.

The expo will feature practical solutions, products and practices that transform discarded materials into useful products and promote a more circular approach to managing waste.

In Metro Manila, the cleanup will also be held at the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach along Roxas Boulevard, SM by the Bay in Pasay City, Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, Tanza Marine Tree Park and Bagumbayan North in Navotas City, Marikina River along Barangay Nangka, Pasig River in Barangay 836 in Pandacan, Solaire North, ASEANA Business Park and Manila Ocean Park.

Gamboa said the broader goal of the initiative is to have less waste reaching waterways and healthier marine ecosystems.

“Let us work together toward a future where there is less waste to collect, healthier marine ecosystems, and communities that are better prepared to face environmental challenges,” she said. (PNA)