On December 17, 2024, the Department of Tourism – Tourism Promotions Board (DOT-TPB), in partnership with the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. (SCPW), conducted a coastal clean-up drive at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP). The event combined hands-on environmental action with education, highlighting the importance of wetlands in Metro Manila and the role of community participation in conservation.
Before the activity, participants attended a briefing led by Ms. Janina Joie Cantara of LPPWP. She explained the methodology behind the coastal clean-up, emphasizing that the activity is more than picking trash. All waste collected was segregated and recorded, turning the clean-up into a community science exercise that tracks environmental data and informs future conservation strategies.
Participants then engaged in the clean-up, collecting and sorting trash along the wetland’s shoreline. This hands-on effort not only reduced pollution in the park but also demonstrated how collective action contributes to sustainable wetland management.
After the clean-up, SCPW’s Jose Carlo Quintos led an educational session to deepen participants’ understanding of wetlands and their significance to the surrounding communities. Mr. Jun Rey Tabarno of LPPWP followed with a discussion on the park’s critical role as the last coastal frontier of Metro Manila, underscoring its ecological importance.
After the clean-up and discussions, participants joined a guided tour of the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park. The tour allowed them to experience the wetland firsthand, observe its unique coastal features, and take part in birdwatching along the shoreline, further deepening their appreciation of the park’s biodiversity and ecological value.
The coastal clean-up exemplifies how strategic partnerships between government agencies and conservation organizations can promote environmental stewardship while fostering public awareness. Through activities that blend action with learning, participants gain firsthand experience of how wetlands support biodiversity, protect communities, and sustain livelihoods.
The SCPW continues to work with partners to advance wetland conservation in the Philippines, demonstrating that informed, engaged communities are key to safeguarding these vital ecosystems for future generations.
