SBMA makes it to Green Destinations 2025 Top 100 stories

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) entry, the Recyclables Collection Program, was hailed as one of the 2025 Top 100 Stories on the global recognition list from the Netherlands-based organization Green Destinations.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, the agency was recognized in the “Good Practice Stories” in sustainable tourism from around the world for the Recyclables Collection Program.

The winning story, “Recyclables Collection Program: SBMA’s Strategy to Implement Circular Economy,” depicts how the agency implements its circular economy strategy primarily through its flagship program, the Recyclables Collection Event (RCE), which is held biannually. It involves collaboration among stakeholders to manage waste, raise funds for charity, and achieve carbon-neutrality goals. 

“This is the first international award of the SBMA for its sustainability efforts. The RCE is part of our bid to make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the Philippines,” he added.

The Green Destinations Top 100 Stories award was presented during the Sustainable Destinations Forum 2025 on October 28-29 at Expo City Dubai, where the ceremony celebrating stories from around the globe was held. 

OIC-Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Group Amethya Dela Llana cited that the primary goal of the Recyclables Program is to achieve a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040. The initiative also aims to make Subic Bay Freeport into the first Green Port City in the country.

Dela Llana said that the RCE is a multi-faceted approach that transforms waste management from a disposal problem into an integrated system that creates resources, fosters community involvement, and supports social causes, embodying the principles of a circular economy.

SBMA Ecology Center OIC Rossell L. Abuyo added, “The RCE is an event where SBMA departments, Subic Freeport companies, and residents donate or sell segregated common recyclables such as paper, plastics, metals, and hazardous wastes such as used oil, e-waste, busted bulbs, and expired medicines.” 

She added that proceeds from the sales of these materials are often donated to local charitable institutions, namely the Missionaries of Charity house, which is a shelter for abandoned seniors, and Bantay Bata 163. There were also instances when the funds were used to provide grocery packs for outsourced utility workers. 

The Green Destinations 2025 Top 100 Stories list highlights sustainable tourism initiatives from around the world, with winning stories announced at the Green Destinations Story Awards ceremony in March 2025. 

Del Carmen of Siargao Islands, Philippines also won an award for its transformation from mangrove cutting to a Ramsar site, or a wetland acclaimed as being of "international importance," and the Cayo District, Belize, for its sustainable tourism projects. 

Other notable award categories were Destination Management, Nature and Scenery, Environment and Climate, Culture and Tradition, Thriving Communities, and Business and Marketing. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Subic Bay Freeport stakeholders, SBMA employees join Arbor Day 2022

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) employees join workers, residents, officials and executives from different locators inside the Freeport zone as they participate in the tree planting, forest clean-up and wildlings collection activity as part of the annual Arbor Day celebration held July 5.

Magtanum kitamo: Subic Bay’s Artbor Day, D-Day is this year’s Arbor Day celebration organized by the SBMA Ecology Center where Subic Bay Freeport locators, residents, SBMA departments and employees, particularly environmental officers, pollution control officers and managers enjoined. 

Dubbed as “Bi-ayang Chawon Year 2,” Arbor Day aims to highlight the values of trees and forests, and to educate and encourage the Freeport stakeholders to take care of these important natural resources.

“Bi-ayang Chawon means to continue doing the activities that would improve environmental awareness, re-introduce activities that would aid in the conservation and protection of the forests, and promote camaraderie among the stakeholders,” SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana explained.

The celebration commenced with Panimula, a virtual opening ceremony on June 20 and ended with Pagpapatuloy, its virtual closing on July 4.

Online lecture series, social media posts and exhibits, and a tree-planting activity highlighted the three-week event. First of which was Chawon: An online Lecture Series” from June 22 to 24.

Also #TREEnding featured (1) weekly social media posts about the SBF forest and/or trivia about trees; (2) a two-week photo exhibit at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall showcasing SBMA’s Arbor Day celebrations and reforestation efforts; (3) a three-day trade fair featuring concessionaires of organic, eco-friendly and/or educational products that will run from June 22 to 24; and (4) a photo contest where participants were asked to post a photo of them or their group participating in the activities during the Subic Bay’s Arbor Day, D-Day on June 30, 2022.

Finally, Magtanum kitamo: Subic Bay’s Arbor Day, D-Day on June 30, participants took part in a tree planting at the SBMA’s reforestation site, collected wildlings at Pamulaklakin Forest, and cleanup El Kabayo Forest.

Meanwhile, SBMA chairman and administrator Rolen C. Paulino disclosed that the said activities area part of the bigger plan to make Subic attractive to foreign and local investors who would want to make it happen in the Philippines and find it practical to invest in Subic. 

Arbor Day is observed every June 25. During the peak of the pandemic, Arbor Day was observed thru online activities. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA to celebrate Earth Day the “new normal” way

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to conduct various activities during the Earth Day 2022 Celebration on April 22 as part of the agency’s thrust to promote environmental protection while still practicing minimum public health protocols.

According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, who is in the US for an official trip, the agency aims to conduct activities at each department’s convenient time.

“This year, with the lowering of the alert level in the area, the SBMA will be taking part in the Earth Day Celebration with strict compliance of the minimum health and safety standards to prevent the spread of the virus. Earth Day activities will be done in several small groups, and not as one big group,” he added.

This year’s theme “Invest in Our Planet” is, according to Paulino, fitting for the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, citing that one of his mandates as Head of the Agency is to invest in the environment in order to attract more business activities in this premier Freeport.

“One of the many thrusts of my office is the beautification of the area, providing lush greeneries and colorful blossoms around the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The SBMA has already started planting bougainvillea on many center islands and pathways of the Freeport,” he said.

Among the activities lined up for the occasion, is a cleanup activity within the vicinities of SBMA office buildings, including the administration building 229, Building N, Naval Supply Depot, and other agency infrastructure.

Each department/office will also conduct lectures for their personnel regarding waste management or environmental protection in relation to their Environmental Management System (EMS).

The official also urged each employee to practice the five Rs of waste management all the time, namely, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle.

During his first month, Paulino has ordered most of the companies located near the coastal areas of Subic Bay such as the Boardwalk Area and the San Bernardino Road to keep their fronts clean, with all complying to ensure a cleaner and greener Freeport.

The Earth Day Celebration was adopted in the Philippines in 1990 by President Corazon C. Aquino by virtue of PD 553 s. 1990 and was supplemented by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through PD 1481 s.2008, declaring every 22nd of April as the "Philippine Earth Day".

During the past two years, the SBMA was unable to celebrate Earth Day due to the health and safety protocols brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earth Day is an annual event held on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including one billion people in more than 193 countries. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA retains ISO seal for environment management

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has maintained its status as a duly-certified organization adhering to international standards in environmental management after hurdling an audit of operational systems early this month.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the SBMA retained its ISO 14001:2015 EMS certification after fulfilling all the environmental management system actions recommended by DQS Certification Phils., a third party certifying body.

“We have envisioned Subic Bay to be a leading eco-urban free port that is why we have consistently raised the bar in managing the environment, which is the core asset of Subic,” Eisma pointed out.

She said that an effective EMS is necessary to achieve enhanced environmental performance, meet compliance obligations, and fulfill environmental objectives.

“Getting more investments, and thus more job opportunities for the community, is always anchored on the fact that Subic is attractive as a location both for business and leisure. This is why an effective EMS is a necessary management tool for the SBMA,” Eisma added.

The ISO 14001:2015, which is the international standard for an effective environmental management system (EMS), specifies the requirements that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance and manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner to attain sustainability.

SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana, who is also officer in charge of the SBMA Regulatory Group, said the ISO 14001:2015 is tied up with other management systems standards, such as ISO 9001:2015 or the Quality Management System, which the SBMA received in October 2018.

She said that in compliance with government health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19, DQS conducted the surveillance audit remotely using on-line meet applications.

Dela Llana also noted that during the first surveillance audit in 2019, SBMA received two yellow ratings or commendable actions that exceeded requirements for compliance. In the second surveillance, SBMA got four yellow ratings.

She attributed one of the yellow ratings to the support of the top management for allocating budget and resources for the construction of the SBMA Hazardous Waste Facility.

She added that the SBMA management has fully supported efforts by the agency’s Total Quality Management (TQM) and Environment Management System- Technical Working Group (EMS-TWG) to achieve the ISO certification.

Aside from establishing EMS practices in all its offices, the SBMA has also spearheaded several environment-promotion programs like the semi-annual Recyclables Collecting Event wherein companies or individuals sell or donate recyclable items.

Other SBMA-initiated environment projects include the annual SBMA Arbor Day tree-planting, banning of single-use plastics and Styrofoam in work places, and anti-smoking campaign. (MPD-SBMA)

 PHOTO: 

Waste collection and recycling are part of the established environment management system in the Subic Bay Freeport

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SBMA joins Arbor Day celebration, volunteers for the environment

Employees and community volunteers of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority took part in various environmental programs including tree planting and coastal cleanups.

A total of 150 trees and 2,500 bougainvillea were planted during the Arbor Day celebration at Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The annual event is in compliance with Proclamation No. 643 which seeks to promote a healthier ecosystem through the rehabilitation and re-greening of the environment by planting trees and ornamental plants across the country.

Leading the activity was SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma Eisma, supported by deputy administrator for engineering Marco Estabillo, DA for business Kenneth Rementilla, DA for administration Ruel John Kabigting, and senior deputy administrator for regulatory services and Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana.

Aside from the Arbor Day, the government agency also joined the Dive Heroes Festival-Scubasurero where volunteer scuba divers did underwater cleanup, the International Coastal Cleanup, and the Recyclables Collection event. The latter is a semi-annual activity which encourages stakeholders to help keep the Freeport clean by collecting recyclable materials and bringing them to accredited waste handlers for recovery and upcycling.

Moreover, the SBMA has partnered with the Magbukun Ayta tribe to protect and preserve their indigenous environment and culture under the United Nations Development Programme’s Indigenous Communities Conservation Area, with the support of the municipal government of Morong and the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development. (Manila Standard)

PHOTO:

SBMA chairperson Wilma Eisma leads the agency during the tree planting activity at Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

http://www.manilastandard.net/lifestyle/home-living/301626/sbma-joins-arbor-day-celebration-volunteers-for-the-environment.html

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Volunteer cleanups propel Subic Freeport tourism

Hundreds of volunteers from the various community organizations, schools and government agencies converged here on Sunday to clean up the beach along the popular Boardwalk Park here in preparation for the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay triathlon event here on June 2.

The volunteers from the Philippine Coast Guard-Subic, its auxiliary PCGA 111th Squadron, the Philippine National Police, Ramon Magsaysay University in Subic, Zambales, and local schools Aura College and Gordon College, scoured the coast for trash, and bagged them for sorting and eventual disposal.

But this was nothing extraordinary, said SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who takes pride in a strong culture of volunteerism among stakeholders of the Subic Bay Freeport.

“This Freeport may have its natural attractions to thank for being a major tourist destination in the country today, but it is the culture of volunteerism here that keeps the local tourism industry moving forward,” Eisma said.

“Without the cooperation and support of the Subic Bay area community, the SBMA would not be able to make Subic the top tourist destination in Central Luzon for the last six years,” she added. “Volunteers help keep Subic tourism alive.”

The initiative of stakeholders that include SBMA employees, Freeport business locators, socio-civic organizations, residents, and even visitors to volunteer in clean-up activities here is a result of Eisma’s call for “malasakit” or concern for the common good.

This summer, as Subic prepared to host a mix of sports, entertainment and religious events, volunteer groups led by various SBMA departments buckled down to work to keep beaches, river banks and vacant lots clean and pleasing to the eye.

Today, members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Subic Station, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) 111th Squadron, and the Subic Bay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SBMPC), conduct monthly coastal clean-up along Malawaan Park and Boardwalk area.

“PCGA is mandated to support and assist the community in the protection of the marine environment and its resources, so we are happy to volunteer in cleaning our beach areas, especially in Subic Bay,” said Commander Eduardo Mabita Jr., director of the PCGA division in Subic.

Other groups such as Toyota Avanza Pilipinas (Olongapo Chapter), Lions Club of Olongapo, Gordon College and Aura College, the Police Regional Maritime Unit (Subic) are among the regular participants of the beach clean-ups along the Boardwalk Park here.

The Boardwalk Area is a favorite place for outdoor concerts, and will be the venue for several beach and water sports events in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games that Subic will host on November 30 to December 10.

Jem Camba, manager of the SBMA Tourism Department, noted that with 1.7 million guest arrivals last year, the Subic Bay Freeport continues to hold its position as the best tourist destination in Central Luzon based on the Department of Tourism’s 2018 report.

“With the help of our Subic Bay stakeholders, we are able to provide excellent customer service and create worthy and enjoyable events, and thus make Subic Bay a perfect getaway destination,” Camba also said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

Various stakeholder groups participate in the clean-up along the Boardwalk Park in the Subic Bay Freeport in preparation for the Ironman 70.3 triathlon on June 2. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic community pitch in for SBMA recycling project

Companies, workers and residents brought used light bulbs, car batteries, unused paints, electronic discards, and even old air conditioners to an empty lot here on Friday to join the Subic Bay community in a collection program to recycle wastes and donate the proceeds to charity.

The project was the fourth in a series of Recyclables Collection Event (RCE) organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in line with its “War on Waste” program.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the bi-annual SBMA activity encourages Subic stakeholders to help keep the Subic Bay Freeport clean by collecting recyclable materials and bringing them to accredited waste handlers for recovery and upcycling.

“With these periodic Recyclable Collection Events, we hope to be able to control or minimize the illegal disposal of solid, toxic and hazardous wastes in both the land and water bodies in the Freeport, and, thus, help secure the local environment for future generations, as well as for economic sustainability,” Eisma said.

Among the most common waste materials collected during the activity were busted fluorescent bulbs, used industrial and domestic oil, used lead acid batteries, empty printer ink cartridges, and other electronic wastes.

SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana said the activity is conducted in partnership with the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Customs in Subic, and various treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) companies in Manila and Central Luzon, which collect waste products.

During the 3rd RCE in November last year, the SBMA collected some P186,630 in waste products sold to TSD’s and the cash proceeds was donated to the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation.

SBMA Ecology Center records on the 3rd RCE indicated that the top donors of recyclable materials Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. (Phils.), which brought in P55,165 worth of recyclables; Hitachi Terminals, P12,588; Mega Subic Terminal Services, P10,539; and Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, with P10,530.

Dela Llana said the SBMA is expecting to surpass the previous RCE collection, as more locators and residents have committed to bring in waste materials for the 4th RCE.

She added that the enthusiastic participation of the Subic community will help ensure a healthy environment with clean rivers, mountains and other natural wonders that the public can enjoy.

The 4th Recyclable Collection Event was also highlighted by the re-launching of the anti-smoke belching program in the Subic Bay Freeport by transportation groups, and an art activity conducted by artist-environmentalist Badz  Magsumbol for Ayta children from the Cawag community in Subic, Zambales. (MPD-SBMA)

 PHOTOS:

[1] Workers sort out recyclable materials brought in by stakeholders during the 4th Recyclable Collection Event in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday.

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (5th from left) joins representatives of different transport groups in re-launching the anti-smoke belching program in the Subic Bay Freeport during the 4th Recyclable Collection Event on Friday. 

[3] Artist-environmentalist Badz Magsumbol teaches Ayta children from Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales on how to make decorative paper cut-outs from scrap paper and old magazines in an art workshop during the 4th Recyclable Collection Event in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday. 


/MPD-SBMA

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SBMA brings “plogging” to Subic to evoke environmental 'malasakit'

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is bringing to Subic a new way of boosting both human and nature’s health — “plogging.”

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said plogging, a new term that blends the English word “jogging” and the Swedish phrase “plocka upp” or pick up, started in Sweden and is now becoming popular in parts of Europe and the United States.

“Essentially, plogging is about doing your regular jogging routine, but you have to bring with you a trash bag where you can put all the litter you can pick up along the way,” Eisma explained.

She added that through its Ecology Center, the SBMA will be launching the first Subic Bay Plog Down — a combination of jogging, fun run and picking litter, on May 4 at the Boardwalk Events Center here in line with its “War On Waste” initiatives.

The event is open to public with ages seven years old and above.

Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana explained that Subic Bay Plog Down aims to promote plogging as an exercise that promotes endurance, muscle firmness and harmony, and to stimulate environmental understanding by encouraging communities to suggest solutions on reducing trash in the Freeport.

“Plog Down aims to evoke environmental malasakit by exposing nearby communities to Subic Bay Freeport clean-up,” Dela Llana said.

Under the Plog Down project, all registered participants would pick up trash along their chosen route:
within one hour for Route 1 which has a 2-kilometer distance, or one-and-half hour for Route 2 which has a 3-kilometer distance.

Trash placed in the sacks should only be those considered as litter under the No Littering Policy of the SBMA. All trash thus collected by individual participants will be weighed and recorded.

Dela Llana added that the Subic Bay Plog Down project is just one of the many environment-awareness programs that the SBMA Ecology Center has lined up under its War On Waste initiatives.

Coinciding with the Plog Down event, SBMA will be celebrating Earth Day 2018 in the Subic Bay Freeport with its international theme “End Plastic Pollution” through the conduct of the 4th Recyclables Collection Event (RCE), also on May 4 at the former Legenda Blue Building along the Boardwalk Area.

RCE is a semi-annual event that lets companies inside the Freeport dispose of everyday hazardous workplace wastes properly. Items brought to the event will be bought by accredited recyclers.

Some of the waste materials that can be submitted for collection during the event are laboratory chemicals, solvents, aerosols, batteries, fluorescent tubes, garage waste, household hazardous waste, oils, paints, pharmaceutical waste and photographic and printing waste.

The waste collectors would also accept electronic wastes such as busted washing machines, electric fans, and ovens.

Proceeds of the event will go to Lingkod Kapamilya Bantay Kalikasan ABS-CBN Foundation, which has community-based eco-tourism projects. Meanwhile, the PET bottles collected will be sent to the Tahanang Walang Hagdan. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA’s Heaviest Butt Campaign Goes Viral

SBMA Ecology Center’s Heaviest Butt Campaign has gone viral in just 48 hours since it was posted online on Thursday, April 5, 2018. It garnered 6 million people reached, 45.6 thousand shares, 30.2 thousand likes and 19.2 thousand comments and questions.

People took interest when they read that SBMA is buying dry cigarette butts for 300 pesos per kilo. Most comments expressed surprise, “Is this true?” Some are curious “What will you do with the cigarette butts that you are buying?” Meant to be a local campaign, it has caught nationwide and even international attention. People as far as Metro Manila, Laguna, La Union, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro and as far as Davao are asking where and how do they send their cigarette butts.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator, Atty. Wilma T. Eisma said “We are very happy that our campaign has gone viral and is catching the attention of a lot of people. We are hopeful that the study in which these cigarette butts will be used on, would turn out positive as well.”

The Heaviest Butt Campaign was first conceptualized in response to the observation that cigarette butt is one of the top three litters collected during the yearly International Coastal Cleanup in Subic Bay. Statistics show that there are about 4.5 trillion butts littered worldwide every year.

Cigarette butts cannot be recycled because of the smell and the toxins they contain such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Some data say it takes 5 years for cigarette butts to decompose, still some say it takes 10 years. In the meantime, they contaminate our soil and our waters.

SBMA Ecology Center has partnered with a local company which has designed their own machine for litter or garbage recycling and upcycling. The cigarette butts collected through the Heaviest Butt campaign shall be given to this company as materials for testing and study to see if it is possible to remove the smell and the toxins so that these butts can be upcycled into bricks or hollow blocks. Ecology Center is collecting 20-60 kilograms of cigarette butts for the said study.

This campaign is part of SBMA’s bigger program dubbed as War on Waste. SBMA is also launching the Refuse Single Use, which is a campaign against the use of disposable plastics or one time use plastics, and Straw Sucks which is a campaign against using plastic straws and promoting the use of alternative materials such as bamboo or metal straws, or not to use straws at all.

Eisma says “we hope that with these campaigns, there will eventually be behavioral change among its stakeholders in order to promote environmental responsibility. It aims to strengthen partnership and collaboration with the local community in keeping a clean and healthy Subic Bay Freeport Zone as the place of choice to live, work, and play.” (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA employee Vincent Esteban of the Maintenance and Transportation Department points at the total weight of his and co-workers’ cigarette butts collection as SBMA Ecology Center Social Development Officer Patrick Escusa confirms the reading. The project, dubbed as “Heaviest Butt Campaign,” encourages everyone to collect used cigarette butts and sell it to the SBMA Ecology Center for P300 a kilo to be used in an up-cycling experiment that would use the toxic butts as components of cement bricks.

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Subic divers clean up bay in ‘Scubasurero Festival’

Scuba divers from the Subic Bay area conducted volunteer community work on Saturday to clean Subic Bay under the “Dive Heroes Festival-Scubasurero” event, bringing into the shore more than 50 kilos of various wastes that have found their way into the water.

The annual “Scubasurero,” which is a play on scuba and basurero, the Filipino word for garbage collector, enlists the help of volunteers in cleaning Subic Bay, particularly the area in the vicinity of Grande Island.

Around 200 volunteers, along with 50 certified divers, participated in the clean-up drive organized by the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI), operator of the Ocean Adventure marine park and Camayan Beach Resort, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Scuba-diving groups such as the Subic Bay Dive Association, Arizona, Boardwalk Dive Center, Johann's, Deep Blue Scuba and Wow Shark contributed their personnel and resources for the event.

Under “Scubasurero”, volunteers working on the shoreline collected a total of 7 kilos of nets, 9 kilos of ropes, 10 kilos of plastic, 3 kilos of styropor packaging, 1.5 kilos of plastic bottle, and 5 kilos of plastic.

Meanwhile, the underwater team of divers hauled in 6 kilos of rubber slippers, 5 kilos of plastic, and 11 kilos of bottle after some 40 minutes of dive in 14-meter deep waters at the Camayan reef area, and near Grande Island.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who graced the activity to encourage the participants, thanked everyone involved in the event and emphasized their invaluable role in environment protection.

“We only have one home and this is our home. What you are trying to do here is a testament to what I am trying to say. I hope you'll continue to do it," Eisma said.

The SBMA chief added that she would like to join the next “Scubasurero” event. "Hopefully, next time I'll join you. I'll go back to diving again," she said.

The “Scubasurero” event was held in celebration of the third anniversary of SBMEI’s Camayan Divers PADI Five Star Dive Resort. The clean-up activity was spearheaded by the Camayan divers in cooperation with Project AWARE and the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force.

Camayan Divers officer-in-charge Juanito Soriano also announced after the clean-up that his group will donate P10,000 to Project AWARE, a global network of scuba divers and water enthusiasts who seek to promote protection of the world's water resources.

“Together, there's a lot we can accomplish,” Soriano said, dedicating the “Scubasurero” event to Project AWARE. “We are giving divers a chance to extend their passion for the care of the environment," he added. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Divers prepare to board a motorized boat that will ferry them to their designated dive sites to collect underwater trash during the “Dive Heroes Festival-Scubasurero” at the Subic Bay Freeport on Dec. 2. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] A couple snorkel near the shore to look for underwater trash while volunteer divers prepare for a dive in deeper waters during the “Dive Heroes Festival-Scubasurero” at the Subic Bay Freeport on Dec. 2. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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LOOK: International Coastal Cleanup in Subic Bay Freeport

Freeport locators, residents and employees take part in the annual International Coastal Clean-up on Saturday (September 16) along the Waterfront area of the Subic Bay Freeport, in consonance with millions of other volunteers in the global effort to protect the sea and coastal areas.

SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma T. Eisma joins Freeport locators, residents and employees in cleaning up the Waterfront area of the Subic Bay Freeport during the 32nd edition of the annual International Coastal Clean-up, a global initiative to protect the sea and coastal areas.

Volunteer workers from a Freeport company in the Subic Bay Freeport sort trash they collected  along the Waterfront area of the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday during the International Coastal Clean-up, a global initiative to protect the sea and coastal areas.

All photos by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA

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Subic firm allows solar users to sell excess power

A solar power company located in this free port is now providing the means for power consumers to produce their own electric power supply and sell the excess power generated from their solar panels.

Bandacorp Solar Inc. (Bandasolar) officials said with the net-metering program already in effect, residents of Olongapo City would be able to install an on-site Renewable Energy (RE) facility, produce power for their own consumption, and even sell their excess electricity to distribution utilities.

The firm, which provides environment-friendly solar panels and cost-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lamps to cut down power bills by up to 50 percent, banks on the net-metering program to draw this advantage.

Net-metering allows power users to install wind or solar power stations not exceeding 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity for their own use. The electricity that was not consumed is automatically fed to the Olongapo Electricity Distribution Company (OEDC) system where they are paid as “generation cost.”

The OEDC computes the amount of excess power fed to system and then deducts the total from the consumer’s next electricity bill, thus lowering the cost.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma Eisma lauded the Subic company for its support in the government’s renewable energy program and for encouraging local households and businesses to play an active role in alternative energy production.

“This is what Subic is all about—innovation and public service,” Eisma said. “Bandasolar not only helps power consumers minimize the use of expensive conventional power energy fuels, and thus save on their power bills, it also helps protect the environment and preserve natural energy sources,” she added.

Bandasolar is accredited by the Department of Energy to design and supply equipment for solar-powered systems for commercial, government, industrial and residential customers. The firm is offering free consultation at their showroom-office along Sampson Road in the Subic Bay Freeport for those who wish to know more about solar-power generation.

Bandasolar also offers a line of energy-saving devices ranging from air-conditioning system to solar street lights, solar water heater, and even home and industrial solar-lighting solutions.

Among the companies in Subic Freeport that already use solar power or LED lamps are Ocean Adventure marine theme park; gastight plastic storage manufacturer GrainPro; packaging manufacturer PACTEC; the testing and certification firm SGS; and ink solution provider Printing Images CtC, Inc.

Bandasolar has also installed solar facilities for some residences at the Kalayaan and Binictican housing areas in the Subic Bay Freeport, and undertaken similar projects in Zambales, Pampanga, Batangas, and Ilocos Sur under the net-metering scheme.

Already implemented in some countries around the world, the net metering scheme in the Philippines is governed by Republic Act 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and implemented through the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in consultation with the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB). (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic volunteers plant 5,000 trees on Arbor Day

About a thousand volunteers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), business locators and stakeholder groups in this free port planted some 5,000 trees on Friday during the Arbor Day celebration here.

SBMA administrator Wilma Eisma said the volunteers braved the long walk to the planting site in the foothills of Barangay Bangal in Dinalupihan, Bataan, which is still part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“My heart swells with pride to see people here very early in the morning—sweaty, hands soiled and shoes muddy while planting, and not complaining at all,” Eisma said. “It’s such a beautiful sight! No food and shirts for free, yet they’re still here.”

The tree-planting project was attended by representatives from Subic-registered companies like Jollibee, Ocean Adventure, Petron, Koryo, SubicWater, Jobin, IDESS, RP Energy, Crown Peak, Toyota, Koushin, Mega Subic, Aura College, as well as the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce.

The government sector was also represented in the activity by the PNP-Special Action Forces, Olongapo City Council, Barangay Gordon Heights, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) Olongapo City, and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Community groups like the Philippine Association of Certified Public Accountants were also present.

According to Patrick Escusa, chief of the Social Development Division of the SBMA Ecology Center that spearheaded the activity, the volunteers planted around 5,000 seedlings in a graded 2.2-hectare land in the middle of a forested area in Bangal.

The seedlings, mostly narra and some fruit-bearing species, were from DENR-CENRO, the SBMA nursery, and some stakeholders.

This was the third tree-planting activity held as part of the Arbor Day celebration here, which is part of the agency’s environmental preservation and conservation advocacy program under Republic Act 10716, the law that revived the observance of Arbor Day in 2012 and authorized government units to observe the annual event with tree-planting activities.

Arbor Day is observed every June 25, but the SBMA held it two days earlier to enjoin more employees and other stakeholders to join the activity.

“I’m very happy that this is happening today—that we are helping in taking care of the environment,” Eisma also said on Friday, as the volunteers completed the project by mid-day.

“I hope this happens every day with similar gestures—by picking up the plastic that we throw, by making sure we conserve on water. Any little thing we could do to save the environment will help,” Eisma added. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma T. Eisma prepares to plant a narra seedling during the Arbor Day tree-planting activity last Friday in the Subic Bay Freeport.

[2] SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma T. Eisma and SBMA Director Tomas Lahom III lead employees in a tree-planting activity in the Subic Bay Freeport in observance of Arbor Day last Friday.

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200 Subic volunteers join new ‘Protect the Bay’ project

Members of the Subic Bay Freeport community have again answered the call for community cooperation and banded together for another initiative to protect the coastal environment.

Some 200 volunteers from various community groups and government agencies joined the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) for a one-day coastal cleanup project at Sitio Kinabuksan in Barangay Cawag, Subic, Zambales held recently.

The volunteers included students from Kinabuksan, members of the Calapandayan Fisherfolks Association, personnel from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Olongapo City, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), SBMA Ecology Center, SBMA Public Relations Department, and representatives of RP Energy.

RP Energy CSR Officer Jason Gavina said the project was the first installment of the power firm’s “Protect the Bay” initiative that seeks to promote environmental awareness, establish sustainable livelihood for fisher folks, and to protect Subic Bay.

“This is part of our social responsibility. We believe in supporting our community and not just making profit. We believe in environmental awareness, preservation and sustainability,” he said.

“I’m sure that if we’re going to do this three times this year, mahihiya at mahihiya na tayong magkalat sa ating kapaligiran,” Gavina added.

Aside from the cleanup, RP Energy will establish sustainable livelihood programs for the fisherfolk in Subic Bay, he said.

For the second coastal cleanup activity, Gavina said the RP Energy will implement on May 27 the “Basura Palit Gamit Eskwela” project, whereby children in the Cawag community could bring recyclable waste and exchange them for school supplies.

Meanwhile, Community Environment Officer Marife Castillo lauded the “Protect the Bay” project for its contribution to the government’s environmental protection campaign.

“We appreciate the initiatives of RP Energy in doing this kind of activity for the community,” Castillo said during last Saturday’s cleanup project.

RP Energy, which is developing a state-of-the-art coal-fired power plant at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula, will be using environment-friendly technology for its 600-megawatt power plant. (Jyssilee Marcillano/Tin Fortuna/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
Volunteers led by (from left) SBMA Public Relations Officer Amie Llamas, RP Energy CSR Officer Jason Gavina, Olongapo Community Environment Officer Marife Castillo, and Philippine Coast Guard’s George Cosme segregate garbage collected from the beach during a coastal clean-up held recently at Sitio Kinabuksan, Barangay Cawag, Subic, Zambales. (AMD/EVS/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Bay joins World Wetlands Day celebration

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) launched the 1st Subic Bay Wetlands Celebration Wednesday (Feb. 1), joining the international community in celebrating this year’s World Wetlands Day.

With the theme “Wetlands for disaster risk reduction”, the two-day Subic celebration culminated with the holding of Biay Mangrove Adventure with around 150 employees and environmental officers from different companies participating in various activities related to mangrove protection.

SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma said the activity which was spearheaded by the agency’s environment arm, the Ecology Center, was aimed at educating the participants on the importance of wetlands to the coastal communities, the environment and marine life.

“We appreciate the participants for sharing their time in raising public awareness about the importance of the wetlands and contribute to the conservation and protection of our mangrove forests,” she said.

Inside the Freeport’s Binictican-Malawaan Mangrove Area, participants were divided into groups: one group assigned to pick-up, identify and record trash and garbage found inside the mangrove area, and another to plant mangrove samplings to “vacant” portions of the area.

Another group was assigned to count and record how many living crustaceans they could find in the selected one square meter-area of the wetland to determine the biodiversity in the area.

SBMA Ecology Center head Amethya Dela Llana-Koval said the records will be used as reference in formulating a mangrove management plan that will define guidelines and policies related to the protection and conservation of all mangrove areas in the Freeport.

There is an estimated 62 hectares of wetlands in Subic Freeport located in Boton, Binictican-Malawaan, Triboa A, Triboa B, Nabasan and Ilanin, where 37 species of mangroves are found and serve as feeding, spawning and nursery grounds to many marine life and considered as nature’s buffer to natural hazards such as flooding caused by storms, cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis.

Among the objectives of the MMP is to regulate the harvesting of all resources, such as fish, crabs, woods among others, inside the mangrove areas through the help of a community-based monitoring team.

Koval also lauded Administrator Eisma for her support to environment-related activities of Ecology Center, including the launching of 1st Subic Bay Wetlands Day celebration.

In a meeting with environmental officers prior to celebration day, Koval remarked that Eisma is supporting all programs of the Ecology Center, particularly one that penalizes litterers and trash throwers in the Freeport zone.

“Galit ang ating Administrator sa basura na madalas makita sa ating mangrove areas na madalas maging sanhi ng pagkasira ng ating bakawan at pagkaubos ng mga yamang tubig,” she said.

She noted that one may not realize the importance of mangroves until the day we lose our water resources and habitat. “Mangroves are the life of our water resources. When the eco-system is put in danger by destroying the mangrove areas, other parts of the environment are also affected,” she explained.

World Wetlands Day was first celebrated internationally in 1997 and held every 2nd of February by holding activities to raise public awareness and promote the conservation and protection of wetlands including seminars, mangrove adventures, festivities and other activities. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] An indigenous Aeta woman joins other volunteers in planting mangrove saplings during the celebration of World Wetlands Day at the Malawaan-Binictican mangrove area in Subic Bay Freeport Thursday (Feb. 02) morning. Celebrated every February 2 each year, World Wetlands Day with this year’s theme “Wetlands for Disaster Risks Reduction”, marks the date of the adaption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 02, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Volunteers conduct an epifaunal survey using a quadrant frame, a method in determining and counting living species in swamplands. The activity was part of the celebration of World Wetlands Day at the Malawaan-Binictican mangrove area in Subic Bay Freeport Thursday (Feb. 02) morning. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Olongapo bans plastic, styrofoam as packaging materials

OLONGAPO CITY - The use and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags and styrofoam as packaging materials are now prohibited in Olongapo City as part of its efforts to protect the environment and mitigate flooding in the area.

“Plastic bags and styrofoam are among the top trash collected during our yearly citywide cleanup, and is also one of the main reasons why our drainage clogs up. That is why we opt to ban plastic in the city.” Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino said.

He added that it is also the city’s way to help protect and care for the environment.

“Kailangan namin ng tulong na mga residents. Kapag nakita sana nila na gumagamit pa rin ng plastic bags or styro yung tindahan, sabihan na nila, o mag report sa aking opisina," Paulino said.

"Hindi lang naman ang local na pamahalaan ang makikinabang dito, buong Olongapo lalong lalo na ang mga maliiliit na bata na maiiwan natin sa syudad. Lahat tayo dapat maging miyembro ng task force.” He added.

Mayor Paulino also formed a task force composed of selected personnel from the local government to monitor and implement the said ban.

The ban on plastic bags and Styrofoam started January 1, 2017 after a gradual implementation last year.

Under City Ordinance No. 11 Series of 2015, any establishment violating the ban will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P5,000 plus cancellation of its business permit for the third offense.

The gradual prohibition of plastics started in the 3rd quarter of last year allocating every Wednesday as plastic-free day. It was followed by a two-day ban during the 4th quarter of 2016 with Wednesdays and Saturdays allocated as plastic-free days.

The ordinance encourages residents to use recyclable bags, bayongs, eco bags, biodegradable plastic, paper cups and paper food containers as replacement for the banned material.

Mayor Paulino explained that the gradual implementation of the ban last year was done upon the request of businesses as they have already stocked up on plastic bags for their use.

“But now the honeymoon is over, we need to adhere to the law and I am very positive that we can achieve this goal by helping each other.” Paulino said. (SNL)

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SBMA continues private sector partnership for mangrove management

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has continued its partnership with the private sector in the restoration and management of mangrove forests in this free port, gaining more support this year for planting and clean-up projects, as well as public awareness campaigns.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the agency has again successfully tapped business locators in the Subic Freeport for sustaining its mangrove restoration program, which was launched by the SBMA Ecology Center early last year.

He said the companies that joined SBMA mangrove projects in the first half of 2016 were Asia International Auctioneers, Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Services, Chowking, Sankyo Denki Corp., and Anscor Swire.

The project participants since January also included the International School of Manila, international delegates to the Asia Forestry Week Convention, and SBMA employees.

“We’re evidently getting more support for this program,” Garcia said, pointing out that five business locators and two schools joined restoration projects last year.

“I believe that through our diligent information program, more and more stakeholders in the Freeport as well as other areas have come to appreciate the importance of mangroves not only in food production, but also in coastal protection and tourism,” the SBMA official added.

He said the project participants helped plant mangrove seedlings, clean mangrove areas and collect saplings, tag mangrove trees, construct seed plots and establish mangrove nurseries, donate nursery materials and equipment, and conduct lectures to local students.

According to Rhea Jane Mallari, senior forest management specialist at the SBMA Ecology Center, project participants have planted saplings at the Binictican, Malawaan and Maritan mangrove areas here.

Mallari said the SBMA mangrove reforestation program followed the natural zoning of species. Hence wildlings of the pototan, bungalon, and saging-saging species were planted at the Binictican site, bungalon wildlings at Malawaan, and nursery-propagated piagau and bakawang lalaki at Maritan.

Based on the Ecology Center’s monitoring, it was found out that nursery-raised seedlings had a higher survival rate compared to wildlings that were harvested from the planting sites.

The SBMA initiated the mangrove awareness and restoration campaign in early 2015 to increase public awareness on the importance of mangrove ecosystems; encourage stakeholder participation in mangrove management; protect and maintain the integrity of mangrove forests in the Subic Bay Freeport and ensure their sustainability; and attract research and ecologically-sound activities in the mangrove areas of Subic Bay. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and volunteers from business companies at the Subic Bay Freeport plant mangrove seedlings at the Triboa Mangrove Park during the Earth Day celebration in Subic Bay Freeport last April. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic volunteers plant 5,600 trees on Arbor Day

More than 1,300 volunteers planted about 5,600 seedlings of various fruit trees here in Subic Bay Freeport during the Arbor Day Celebration organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Friday, June 24.

Spearheaded by the SBMA Ecology Center, the tree-planting activity was conducted at the Pastolan Ayta village in this freeport.

The seedlings planted were mostly local species like cashew, calamansi, coconut, santol, pomelo, and kaong, which are endemic in the area and therefore beneficial even to local wildlife.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, who also joined the event, stressed that with the number of seedlings planted, about six orchards have been established that will soon provide additional sources of food and livelihood for the Ambala Ayta tribe living near the tree-planting sites.

Aside from SBMA employees, who made up the bulk of the volunteers, workers from locator-companies in the Subic Freeport, students, members of the Philippine Coast Guard, the local police, Boy Scouts, and some Olongapo officials joined the activity.

Most of the volunteers had earlier joined another SBMA activity during the Earth Day celebration last April that saw more than 500 representatives from various groups in the Subic community collecting talisay seedlings and mangrove saplings and planting them at the Apaliin Mangrove Trail at the former ​Naval ​Magazine area here.

Last Friday’s Arbor Day celebration started with a breakfast treat for participants at the SBMA administration building, followed by a hundred-vehicle motorcade to Pastolan village for the actual tree-planting.

Now celebrated worldwide, Arbor Day was founded in the Spanish village of Mondoñedo where the first arbor plantation festival in the world was documented in 1594. In 1805, another small Spanish village named Villanueva de la Sierra held the first modern Arbor Day, an initiative launched by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.

Arbor Day in the Philippines was institutionalized in 1947 through Proclamation No. 30, which called for a nationwide observation of the event by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities. In 2012, Republic Act 10176 was passed, which revived tree-planting activities “as yearly event for local government units.” (RAV-MPD/SBMA)

PHOTOS: (Clockwise from top left)

[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) receives an Apitong seedling from Senior Forester Edward Sernadilla during the kick-off ceremony for the Arbor Day celebration in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 24. The Apitong is among the endangered dipterocarp tree varieties listed as vanishing forest tree species, which will be propagated by the SBMA Ecology Center.

[2] Volunteers plant seedlings of fruit-bearing trees at the Pastolan Ayta village.

[3] Volunteers enjoy a “boodle fight” after planting fruit-bearing tree species at the Pastolan Ayta village.

[4] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) and other SBMA employees join Aeta tribal leaders Bonifacio Florentino and Conrado Frenilla in the Arbor Day tree-planting activity.

(AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA to plant 3,000 trees on Arbor Day

In fulfillment of its commitment to preserve and protect the environment in this free port and special economic zone, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) looks forward to planting more than 3,000 seedlings of various tree species on June 24, the world-wide commemoration of Arbor Day.

The tree-planting project to be spearheaded by the SBMA Ecology Center, the environment management office here, will be undertaken at the Pastolan Village, home of the indigenous Ayta tribe in Subic.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Services Ruel John Kabigting, who is concurrent head of the Ecology Center, said the activity will be open to all locator-companies in the free port, as well as organizations, residents or individuals in the surrounding areas who wish to join or support Nature conservation.

Kabigting said that participants in the Arbor Day project will meet in front of the SBMA administration building at 7:30 a.m., then proceed to Pastolan for simultaneous tree planting and seedling potting.

Meanwhile, Forester Patrick Escusa, chief of the Ecology Center-Social Development Division, said the SBMA is hoping to surpass the number of last year’s Arbor Day participants. The 500 delegates last year came from the SBMA, various Freeport companies, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Olongapo City, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 111th Squadron, DPWH district office, and police offices in Olongapo and Hermosa. Bataan.

Now celebrated worldwide, Arbor Day was founded in the Spanish village of Mondoñedo where held the first arbor plantation festival in the world was documented in 1594. In 1805, another small Spanish village named Villanueva de la Sierra held the first modern Arbor Day, an initiative launched by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.

Arbor Day in the Philippines was institutionalized in 1947 through Proclamation No. 30, which called for a nationwide observation of the event by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities.

In 2012, Republic Act 10176 was passed, which revived tree-planting activities “as yearly event for local government units.” (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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Earth Day 2016: Subic Bay stakeholders undertake mangrove, reef restoration projects

Stakeholders in this free port banded together on Friday for mangrove and reef restoration projects in celebration of Earth Day 2016.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said more than 500 representatives from various groups in the Subic community volunteered to collect talisay seedlings and mangrove saplings and planted them at the Apaliin Mangrove Trail inside the former naval magazine here.

“We are doing this not for ourselves, but for our children and the future generations,” Garcia said as he joined a tree-tagging project organized by the SBMA Ecology Center.

Garcia said that the successful Earth Day activities here “only show that more and more people are getting involved in protecting and preserving Mother Earth.”

Aside from SBMA employees, those who participated in the mangrove project included representatives from the Olongapo City Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) Squadron 111, workers from locator-companies and students.

On Wednesday, the PCGA also constructed six artificial reef units in Subic Bay to fulfill its commitment to the protection of the marine environment and its resources here.

The artificial reefs were installed approximately 15 meters deep and 100 meters from the shoreline of the SEA Beach Resort (former Dungaree Beach) inside the free port.

PCGA National Director Vice Admiral Valentin Prieto Jr., who witnessed the “Build-A-Reef” Project along with other senior officers of the auxiliary group, lauded the officers and members of Squadron 111 headed by its captain, Randy Escolango, who is also SBMA deputy administrator for legal affairs.

“Very impressive,” Prieto described the project, adding that the artificial reef will not only help boost the eco-system in the area, but also the local tourism industry.

At another site nearby, the non-government organization Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative, with full support from the management of the All Hands Beach and Resort here, also implemented a project to revive corals that were dying or damaged by pollution and other destructive human activities.

A group of divers from Sangkalikasan began doing the government-funded Reef Restoration Program in Subic Bay in August last year in an attempt to restore coral fragments.

Jose Rodriguez, project leader of Sangkalikasan, said that they are managing four coral nursery units (CNU) near Grande Island in Subic Bay, but had to transfer them to All Hands Beach for accessibility.

Each CNU is designed to hold at least 500 attachments of “corals of opportunity” which are a collection of dislodged live coral fragments for quick recovery and regeneration to increase survival rates upon transplantation in degraded coral reef sites.

“The management of All Hands Beach is dedicated to make this program successful and we are hoping that other beach resorts and coastal communities will follow suit,” Rodriguez said. (30)

Trash-to-Cash initiative

Meanwhile, A retail chain mall in Olongapo City joined other malls nationwide in the celebration of Earth Day through a simultaneous Trash to Cash Project.

In partnership with Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the activity aims to encourage people to protect and respect Mother Earth though recycling and proper waste disposal.

The project was started five years ago by SM Olongapo through its Trash to Cash Recycling Market, which invites and encourages local government and the community, haulers, recycling groups, social/environmental recycling project groups and private companies to bring their trash in the mall and exchange them for cash.

They could exchange for cash the following waste: plastic and PET bottles, tin and aluminum cans, cartons, papers and more.

However, batteries, car batteries, ink cartridges, computer, television and other electronic wastes are not accepted due to their hazardous content. (SNL)

PHOTOS: (Clockwise from left)

[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia joins a tree-tagging activity at the Triboa Mangrove during the Earth Day celebration in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, April 22.

[2] Women volunteers planting mangrove seedlings at the Triboa Mangrove Park.

[3] A volunteer is reflected on the water as he plants a mangrove seedling.

(Photos by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA)

Other sources:
http://www.mb.com.ph/subic-bay-marks-earth-day-2016-with-reef-projects/
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=878712

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