OLONGAPO CITY — Volunteers from local government units and agencies, military and police offices, and the private sector joined hands on May 10 to clear the coastline of garbage and accumulated debris at Brgy. Kalaklan, which sits at the mouth of Sta. Rita River, the city’s major waterway.

About 250 volunteers combed through the shoreline and hauled away some 610 kilograms of trash during the cleanup organized by Aboitiz Renewables, Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower).

Mikaela Buendia, Solar Project Development Manager at Aboitiz Renewables, said the cleanup aimed to help improve drainage and reduce flooding in communities that are vulnerable during heavy rains.

“The strong volunteer turnout reflects a community that genuinely cares for its coastline, and we are proud to work alongside them in protecting it for future generations,” Buendia stated.

The initiative brought together personnel from the local governments of Olongapo City and Barangay Kalaklan, City Environmental Sanitation and Management Office, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Olongapo, as well as personnel from the Olongapo City Police Office, the Olongapo City Fire Station, and the 69th Infantry “Cougar” Battalion.

Volunteers from GEDI Construction and Development Corporation and Deprez Power Corporation also joined as private sector partners.

AboitizPower, which operates a solar power farm in Olongapo, maintained that the city has faced recurring flooding for decades due to its natural terrain and coastal geography.

Wastes carried by rainwater and drainage systems often accumulate along the shoreline, blocking waterways and worsening floods in nearby communities, it said.

Aboitiz said the coastal cleanup project indicates the company’s continuing support to environmental and community initiatives in its host community. ▲

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[Page 8 – 4a] Volunteers haul collected trash up the slope of the Kalaklan coastline following the cleanup drive on May 10.