The Municipality of Moalboal, renowned as one of Cebu’s premier beach and dive destinations, actively participated in the recent International Coastal Cleanup Day—a global movement dedicated to safeguarding coastal and marine ecosystems. This year marked a significant milestone for the municipality, as it organized simultaneous cleanups at two different locations for the first time. The initiative was a collaborative effort, bringing together the municipal government, local tourism stakeholders, and community volunteers.
Coastal cleanup by AppleOne Group employees
The cleanup operations were spearheaded by Moalboal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron, who personally led the municipal team in collecting waste and debris from critical coastal zones, including the seawall, wharf, and reclamation areas around the town proper. The partners aimed to highlight Moalboal’s commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental conservation by removing marine litter, raising public awareness about environmental protection, and promoting responsible waste management practices. The collected data from the event will contribute to ongoing efforts to monitor and reduce plastic pollution along Moalboal’s coastlines, ensuring that the area remains a vibrant and attractive destination for both local and international visitors.
Multi-sectorial ICC participants at Club Serena Resort
Meanwhile, Club Serena Resort organized a large-scale cleanup operation along the pristine white sand beaches of Saavedra village. The initiative brought together a diverse group of participants, including private sector employees from AppleOne Properties Inc. (API) and staff from One Root Hospitality. Several government agencies were also represented, with barangay officials, members of the Philippine National Police actively ensuring safety and order, Philippine Coast Guard personnel overseeing the coastal perimeter, and Bureau of Fire Protection staff available for emergency response. In addition, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources supervised environmental compliance. The Moalboal Municipal Tourism Office participated to promote sustainable tourism practices. Significantly, experienced scuba divers from various local dive resorts joined the effort by conducting extensive underwater cleanups, removing debris and trash from the seabed to preserve the marine ecosystem.
“The annual ICC Day brought together people from all walks of life to care for the sea and celebrate Moalboal’s love for nature and culture,” says mayor Cabaron.
He added that this year’s event which bears the global theme “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis”, is a part of the town’s year-round commitment to protecting one of the country’s best beaches and underwater world.
Club Serena Resort
He noted that public and private entities do regular coastal and marine cleanups which involves townsfolk, fisherfolk and tourist establishments to ensure Moalboal’s environmental health.
Located on the southwestern coast of Cebu province, the town of Moalboal has gained recognition for its beautiful beaches and vibrant marine life, being named a finalist in the top destination category at the recent Philippine Tourism Awards held by the Department of Tourism.
In addition, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) event organized at Saavedra Beach marked the first major collaborative environmental initiative led by the private sector in the area. This effort brought together local government units, non-governmental organizations, beach resort operators, and community volunteers, and was spearheaded by AppleOne Properties Inc., a prominent, Cebu-based developer and hospitality company committed to sustainable tourism.
“AppleOne’s leadership in this year’s ICC is our public statement on sustainability even as we pursue property and tourism development in the countryside. We have been implementing earth-friendly measures across our group of companies, and the ICC is but part of our bigger journey towards corporate social responsibility,” says API vice president for hospitality Samantha Manigsaca who hatched the local version of the global movement.
She noted that the multi-sectoral participants wrote their specific pledges after the cleanup to create synergy for Tañon Strait, the country’s biggest protected seascape with a rich marine biodiversity.
API is the developer behind several renowned luxury hotel brands located in Cebu, Bohol, and Cagayan de Oro. Additionally, API manages the newly-formed One Root Hospitality, which oversees a collection of restaurants and boutique chains across Cebu and Mindanao. This innovative hospitality group is deeply committed to environmental protection, making sustainable practices a central part of its operations and advocacy.
Nestled between the vibrant provinces of Cebu and Negros, the Tañon Strait is a breathtaking marine corridor renowned for its remarkable biodiversity. Spanning 8,408 hectares, its extensive coral reefs teem with life, featuring 41 common coral genera that paint the seafloor with their vivid colors and intricate structures. The strait also shelters 4,108 hectares of lush mangrove forests, home to 46 recognized mangrove species, providing vital nursery grounds for countless marine creatures. Notably, the strait serves as a sanctuary for 48 percent of the Philippine archipelago’s cetacean population—dolphins and whales that can often be seen gliding gracefully through its deep blue waters. It also harbors 12 of the nation’s 16 seagrass species, playing a crucial role in sustaining marine life.
Tañon Strait is celebrated for the spectacular sardine run, an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon where millions of sardines form swirling silvery clouds near Panagsama Beach, attracting divers and underwater photographers from around the world. Nearby, Pescador Island rises as a picturesque limestone islet, now declared a protected marine park and fish sanctuary, famous for its crystalline waters, vibrant underwater scenery, and thriving aquatic biodiversity.
Freediving at the Panagsama beach sardine run
The third Saturday of September each year is officially recognized as International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day, as established in the Philippines by Presidential Proclamation No. 470. This day mandates government agencies, private organizations, and all sectors of society to participate in coordinated efforts to clean our coastal and marine environments.
Since 1994, the Philippines has been a committed participant in the global movement for ocean conservation, joining volunteers worldwide to address marine pollution. Each year, tens of thousands of Filipino volunteers join the ICC by cleaning beaches, riverbanks, waterways, and seabeds across the archipelago. During these activities, participants also meticulously document and analyze the types and quantities of trash collected, providing valuable data to local government units and environmental organizations for enhancing waste management strategies and policy development.
The ICC began in 1986, initiated by the Texas-based organization Ocean Conservancy. What started as a local event has now grown into a global initiative, observed in over 100 countries, making it the world’s largest volunteer effort focused on the health of oceans and waterways. The collected data from the ICC has led to a better understanding of marine debris sources, influencing international environmental agreements and local community initiatives.
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