Up to 350 kilos of non-biodegradable waste were collected from various bodies of water in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region during a massive cleanup drive held in observance of World Water Day.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12), around 300 participants from local government units, government agencies, law enforcement units, academe, youth groups, private sector, and local communities supported the initiative, which is also part of DENR-12’s water protection conservation efforts.

The cleanup activities were conducted at several sites, including the Nuangan River in Kidaapwan City, the Big Margus River in Glan, the Kalaong River in Maitum, and the Limulan River in Kalamansig.

DENR-12 Executive Director Maria Elvira Lumayag said the multi-sectoral approach underscored a unified front in addressing the challenges facing the region’s primary waterways.

DENR-12 field offices also conducted targeted information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns to intensify public awareness on water security and the immediate environmental pressures on the region’s water bodies.

Lumayag also said that the activities not only help restore local river systems but also aim to formalize community participation in sustaining long-term watershed protection.

The World Water Day carries the theme “Isang Agos para sa Karapatan at Pagkakapantay-pantay.”