History of ICC in the Philippines

The Philippines officially joined Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) in 1994 through the initiative of the International Marinelife Alliance (IMA), a marine conservation NGO funded by the US AID.  When the organization ceased its operations In 2006,  International Coastal Cleanup Philippines (ICC Philippines), a volunteer group headed by former Vice President of IMA was created to assume national coordination of the ICC.  At present, ICC Philippines, Inc., a duly registered NGO based in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines is continually working towards the protection and conservation of our coasts and waterways, inspiring changes in the behavior towards marine debris and bringing about a stronger alliance for trash free seas.

In a span of twenty-nine (29) years, the ICC in the Philippines has achieved continuing success, gathered more than 4.5 million cleanup volunteers, has removed about 21,680 metric tons of trash/debris and cleaned 66,528 kilometers of coasts, rivers, waterways and underwater areas . The educational institutions (private and state universities, colleges and schools) are the main sources of volunteers since 1994. Other volunteers from the government and private sectors, coordinators and institutional partners, continue to show greater willingness to be part of the solution, not of the problem.

ICC INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

Government Sector:

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

• Department of Education (DepED)

• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

• Department of Transportation (DOTr) - Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)

• Philippine National Police – Maritime

• Manila Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA)

• Philippine Navy

• Philippine Air Force

• Philippine Army

• Philippine Marines

Non-Government Agencies and Private Sector:

• FORZA Group of Companies

• Lighthouse Marina Resort

• Shore It Up

• Science of Identity Foundation (SIF) - Care

• Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary

• Chevron Philippines, Inc. and Chevron Batangas Terminal

• Reef Conservation Initative, Inc.

• Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines (CCBP)

• Coca Cola FEMSA

• Pepsi Cola

• PETRON Pandacan Depots Services, Inc.

• UNILEVER

• Rotary Club International

• Lion's Club

• HP Philippines

• DHL Philippines

• MetroBank

• PETRON

• Toyota Philippines

• Hewlett-Packard Philippines

• Philippine Airlines

• Others

TIMELINE of ICC in the Philippines

1994 -  The first coastal cleanup was held simultaneously in only 6 provinces: Puerto Princesa City, Municipality of El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Tacloban City in Leyte, Bacolod City in Negros Oriental, and Anilao Bay in Mabini, Batangas. With only 3,080 volunteers covering an aggregate 76 kilometers of beaches, underwater areas and shorelines, a total of 8,459 kg of marine debris was collected filling up 552 trash bags. El Nido had 2,000 volunteers from the divers, tourists and the local residents. ICC then in the the Philippinea was initiated by International Marinelife Alliance (IMA), an NGO funded by USAID.

2000 - Presidential Proclamation No. 244 was issued by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos declaring the whole month of September as the “National Cleanup Month”. The same year, a recognition ceremony for deserving ICC Coordinators was held at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañan Palace.

2002 - The Philippines received the recognition as the "cleanup capital of the world" with more than half a million volunteers.

2001 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law on January 26, 2001 Republic Act 9003, known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

2003 - Presidential Proclamation No. 470 was issued on September 15, 2003 by President Arroyo declaring the third Saturday of September as the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day.

2006 - ICC Philippines, a voluntary organization headed by the former VP of IMA was designated by the Ocean Conservancy as the Philippines' National Coordinator.

2007 - 2019 -  Philippines continuously topped other participating countries in the ICC based on the number of cleanup volunteers.

2020 - Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, observance of the ICC Day was cancelled globally.

2021-22 - Coping with the many challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, participating countries in the ICC try to conduct cleanups with health and safety in mind.   ICC volunteer participation is limited to individuals or small groups only to ensure safety and health protocols are in place.

2023 - present - Large group Cleanups are allowed once more but with health and safety precautions, such as wearing of masks and gloves. Our country placed second among the top ICC participating countries in 2023 with a total of 130,000 volunteers.