The most recent water cleanup in Barangay Bato, Toledo City, Cebu, on Thursday, 24 April 2025, resulted in the collection of 11,500 kilograms of marine waste.
Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI), a subsidiary of AboitizPower, launched the Scubasurero environmental program in 2022 as part of an ongoing coastal and underwater cleanup campaign aimed at protecting the marine ecosystem of the Tanon Strait.
"This kind of work doesn't happen in silos," said AboitizPower vice president for Facilities-Visayas Noel Cabahug.
"Our efforts — whether underwater, on land, or through community programs — are made possible by the partnership we've cultivated with local stakeholders. Together, we're not just advancing our business, but also creating shared value and resilience for the communities around us."
The latest cleanup recorded only 35 kg. of waste — down sharply from 408 kg. in 2022 — signaling stronger local participation and growing awareness around environmental protection.
The activity was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Tanon Strait Protected Seascape, the Philippine Coast Guard, Toledo Spearo, and community-based organizations like the Toledo United Farmers, Fishermen, and Women Workers (TUFFWOW).
"Scubasurero is a reflection of what we can achieve when people come together for a common cause and how it can lead to real, lasting impact," said TVI environmental supervisor Emalyn Sevilla in a statement.
"Our work beneath the waves is just one part of a bigger picture — one where businesses, communities, and institutions unite to care for the environment we all rely on."
Scubasurero is part of TVI's larger sustainability framework, which includes Project Brick, a circular economy initiative that transforms fly ash — a byproduct of power generation — into eco-bricks and pavers. Through this project, more than 1,500 eco-bricks and 1,500 eco-pavers have been produced in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and TUFFWOW, contributing to both environmental protection and local livelihood development.
TVI's sustainability efforts also extend to land-based conservation. Its Carbon Sink Management Program, launched in 2016, recently achieved a key milestone by planting over one million native and fruit-bearing trees across Cebu — three years ahead of its 2027 target.