Aboitiz Foods Joins International Coastal Clean-Up Initiatives in the Philippines

International Coastal Clean-up Day is celebrated every third Saturday of September as part of a global campaign to advocate for healthier and cleaner seas. This year, Aboitiz Foods reaffirmed its commitment by planting bamboo seedlings and collecting trash from the shore of Bataan and Iligan City. 

Over 120 volunteers participated in the activities, including Aboitiz Foods team members, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) representatives, and community stakeholders. 

Last September, volunteers from Aboitiz Foods, representing the Iligan and Tarlac facilities, collected a total of 16 sacks of waste along the shores of Cosa Nostra in Iligan City and Aguawan Beach, Mariveles, Bataan. The waste consisted mainly of plastics, food wrappers, bottles, and other non-biodegradable items. This collective effort in different parts of the country helped clear litter and debris from waterways and supported biodiversity conservation initiatives.

In addition to the clean-up drive, volunteers also conducted a Bamboo Planting Activity on the same month, in partnership with the Iligan CENRO. Together, they planted 325 bamboo seedlings at Sitio Bolaho, Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City, contributing to strengthening riverbanks, improving watershed sustainability, and supporting carbon sequestration efforts. 

Marish Omane, Aboitiz Foods Environment Supervisor, expressed her gratitude to the volunteers who participated in the initiatives, “We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers who dedicated their time, energy, and effort to this cause. Your contribution reflects our shared responsibility in creating cleaner, safer, and healthier communities for present and future generations. Together, we proved that small collective actions can make a lasting difference,” she said.

This year’s International Coastal Clean Up Day, organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), carries the theme, “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis: Tayo ang Solusyon.” The theme highlights that individual actions can greatly impact the environment, particularly in maintaining cleanliness and addressing climate change. 

In the spirit of teamwork and volunteerism, Aboitiz Foods team members embody the Aboitiz Value of Responsibility by raising awareness about the significance of proper waste segregation and promoting overall environmental stewardship goals. By participating in initiatives like this, Aboitiz Foods continues to underscore its commitment to sustainability and responsible care for the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key takeaways from Aboitiz Foods’ participation in this initiative?
Three themes stand out. First, environmental stewardship is embedded in the company’s operations, not just in its communications – volunteer mobilization from active production facilities demonstrates operational commitment. Second, the pairing of waste removal with bamboo planting shows an integrated approach: cleaning up existing damage while investing in long-term ecosystem recovery. Third, by aligning with a globally observed environmental day, the company reinforces that sustainability in food and agribusiness must extend from the factory floor to the surrounding environment that supports healthy communities and food systems.

What is International Coastal Clean-Up Day, and why does it matter?
International Coastal Clean-Up Day is a global environmental observance held every third Saturday of September, calling communities, businesses, and governments to protect oceans and coastlines by removing waste and raising awareness. It reflects the shared responsibility to keep marine ecosystems healthy. For food and agribusiness companies operating near coastal communities, the event is a meaningful opportunity to act on their environmental commitments and demonstrate that corporate responsibility extends beyond their facilities into the ecosystems that sustain the communities around them.

How did Aboitiz Foods participate in the 2025 International Coastal Clean-Up Day?
Aboitiz Foods participated through two simultaneous activities: a coastal clean-up drive and a bamboo seedling planting activity. Volunteers from Aboitiz Foods’ Iligan and Tarlac facilities deployed to two separate shoreline locations in the Philippines. Beyond waste collection, the bamboo planting was a proactive environmental restoration effort, recognizing that coastal health depends on both removing pollution and rebuilding natural buffers that protect shorelines from erosion and degradation.

Where did the clean-up activities take place, and how much waste was collected?
Clean-up drives were conducted at Cosa Nostra in Iligan City and Aguawan Beach in Mariveles, Bataan on September 20, 2025. Volunteers collected a combined total of 16 sacks of waste from both sites. The waste consisted primarily of plastics, food wrappers, bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials – items that, if left uncollected, would fragment into microplastics and threaten marine life, water quality, and the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on healthy seas.

Who were the participants, and what does broad stakeholder involvement signal?
Over 120 volunteers joined the activities, including Aboitiz Foods team members from its Iligan and Tarlac facilities, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) representatives, and community stakeholders. The cross-sector participation – spanning a private company, a local government environmental office, and the wider community – reflects a whole-of-society approach to environmental stewardship, where lasting results come from coordinated effort rather than isolated corporate action.