Mati City, Davao Oriental — At sunrise, Amihan Beach in Dahican looked like a postcard—powdery sand, rolling waves, and the unmistakable charm that has made it one of Mindanao’s top beach destinations. But just below its crystal-blue waters, a different picture emerged: plastic wrappers, bottles, and household waste hiding in an underwater sanctuary.
To mark Tourism Month 2025, the Provincial Tourism Office of Davao Oriental staged the ZUMBASURA Coastal and Underwater Cleanup Drive, aligning with this year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” The initiative brought together 20 divers who, in just one hour, pulled out 12 onion sacks’ worth of trash—ranging from junk food wrappers to diapers and glass bottles—from depths as shallow as three meters.
“Above the waterline, everything looks perfect. But sustainability is tested by what we don’t immediately see,” said freediver John Carlo Delute, pointing out that Dahican already boasts beautiful dive sites as deep as ten meters. “Protecting the shoreline today means preserving these treasures for tomorrow.”
The cleanup drive was more than a one-day activity—it was a wake-up call that true sustainable tourism goes beyond surface beauty. Organizers emphasized that keeping Dahican pristine requires shared responsibility, not just admiration.
The event was made possible through the collective effort of local groups and institutions, including:
- Sawom Davao Oriental led by Dondon Uyan
- Paddle and Dive Adventure led by Jerson Historia
- Padayon Freediving headed by John Carlo Delute
- DORSU represented by Nikkka Owano
- PNP, with PEMS Angelica Gayta
As the ZUMBASURA team packed away sacks of recovered waste, one message resonated: Dahican’s natural beauty is not invincible. Safeguarding it requires both action and awareness.
For the people of Davao Oriental, the cleanup drive was not only a tribute to Tourism Month but also a reminder that the most important things to protect are often the ones hidden beneath the surface.