SM by the BAY to steer environmental consciousness through the International Coastal Cleanup
SM by the BAY and SM Mall of
Asia, in partnership with DENR-NCR, International Coastal Cleanup Philippines, Pasay
City CENRO, Philippine Coast Guard, the local government of Pasay City, and SM
Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., are
set to hold the global celebration of the 34th International Coastal
Cleanup Day on September 21 to spread awareness in keeping the coastline clean
for generations to come.
To be held at the Central Park
of the bay area, inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, the
International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is one of the biggest events of SM by the
BAY, to support its advocacy in caring for the environment.
This year’s coastal cleanup is
expected to encourage thousands of volunteers to participate and show their
concern for the environment in cleaning the coastal stretch of the SM by the
BAY. Through the years, participantshave come from different sectors of the
society including students, firemen, policemen, teachers, athletes, SM
employees and many more.
Paired volunteers will be
assigned to different stations wherein one will serve as the collector and
other, the tabulator. Data collected will then be forwarded to Ocean Conservancy
for final tabulation.
The coastal cleanup supports UN
Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water, which aims to
sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution,
and safeguard them from all kinds of harmful land-based activities.
In fact, the 2019 ICC
Philippines poster includes a turtle entangled in fishing net, which was
inspired from an event last August 10, 2019, where a Green Sea Turtle was
rescued near the coast of Manila Bay. That image serves as a reminder on the
damaging effects if our activities are left unchecked and coasts are remain
unkempt.
“Each year, tons of garbage wind up in the oceans, with 60% being
composed of plastic material. These are very hazardous to marine life. Now more
than ever, the effects of climate change are seen and felt everywhere. We only
have one earth; let’s get involved in putting an end to marine pollution for
future generations,” said Perkin So, Senior Assistant Vice President of SM
Mall of Asia, who will lead the hundreds of SM volunteers for the cleanup.
Since 2015, SM By the BAY’s
regular coastal cleanup initiative has already collected 682,000 kilograms of
garbage, in more than 5,000 trash bags, and supported by close to 9,000
volunteers.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Other environment and sustainability programs of SM include SM by the BAY’s quarterly cleanup drive; Solar panel rooftop installations which promote the use of clean energy; Water recycling treatment for all malls wherein all recycled water is used back for non-potable and industrial needs; the Automated Weather Stations; the monthly Trash-to-Cash Recycling Market; and the Green Film Festival, to name a few.
As a responsible member of the
community, SM ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive
change in the communities that it supports. To know more about SM Cares, you
may visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares, or
send an e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com.
Interested volunteers may register
at https://bit.ly/2YxuWyT. To know more about the International Coastal
Cleanup, you may visit www.facebook.com/SMbytheBAY, send
an email to thesmbythebay@gmail.com, or
contact (02) 556-0364.
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