Volunteer divers rest after collecting marine trash in Coron, Palawan as part of the nationwide simultaneous coastal and underwater clean-up for 2026 Month of the Ocean Celebration on Thursday, May 21. Photo courtesy of Richard Novelo | Calamianes Dive Association Inc.
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources deployed volunteer divers across 14 diving sites nationwide Thursday for simultaneous coastal and underwater cleanups as part of the Month of the Ocean Celebration 2026.
Carrying the theme “Sustaining Ocean Health, Sailing Towards a Resilient Nation,” the agency mobilized diving volunteers known as “scubasureros” to collect marine litter along shorelines and coral reef areas in an effort to protect and restore marine ecosystems.
The underwater cleanup activities covered major dive destinations across Luzon, including Anilao, Puerto Galera, Apo Reef, Coron and El Nido.
Other participating sites in the Visayas and Mindanao included Siquijor, Panglao Island, Malapascua Island, Moalboal, Siargao, Camiguin, Agutayan Island and Sarangani Bay.
In Central Visayas, 17 divers from 15 dive groups joined as scubasureros in Panglao, Bohol, contributing to underwater and coastal cleanup efforts in the area.
“Being a diver, I really see the beauty of the ocean and how trash is destroying it. It’s our personal and resource goal to really help serve our oceans and beach side,” scuba diver Lloyd Leones said during DENR Region 7 live coverage.
Meanwhile, in Coron, Palawan, Richard Novelo, board director of the Calamianes Diver Association, was among 19 volunteer scuba divers who participated in the underwater cleanup in the island municipality.
“We are actively joining these kinds of events [underwater clean-up drives]. We really ensure that the underwater [environment] is kept clean because this [island] is the natural wealth of Coron as a tourist destination,” the diving instructor said in Filipino during DENR MIMAROPA site coverage.
