General Santos City, October 24, 2023 – The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) – South Cotabato has ramped up its efforts in environmental law enforcement through a recent monitoring and surveillance operation in the coastal areas of General Santos City. The activity, which took place in Barangay Bula on October 23, aimed to address illegal activities impacting the region’s coastal ecosystem, particularly the mangrove areas.
In the wake of Typhoon Kristine, which brought heavy rains and increased tidal activity, PENRO’s team discovered significant accumulations of solid waste along the shoreline. Among the debris were alarming amounts of plastic waste, including single-use plastics, footwear, and food packaging materials, all washed ashore.
In response to this environmental challenge, PENRO initiated a coastal clean-up operation, successfully collecting three sacks of waste. The collected materials were then turned over to Barangay Bula’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for proper disposal and recycling.
PENRO conducts these monitoring and surveillance activities quarterly across the nine coastal barangays of General Santos City. The aim is to deter illegal environmental practices and promote the protection of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), a crucial area for biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Residents and local stakeholders are encouraged to participate in future clean-up initiatives and report any illegal activities affecting the coastal environment. Through collective efforts, PENRO hopes to foster a more sustainable and clean coastal ecosystem for generations to come.
