The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) rallied 2,894 volunteers across eight sites nationwide for its largest Shore It Up! Weekend yet, removing 2.3 metric tons of marine litter and planting 600 mangroves. The annual coastal and marine conservation event took place in Del Carmen, Siargao; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Medina, Misamis Oriental; Cordova, Cebu; Marinduque; Mabini, Batangas, with support from the Tubbataha Reefs Management Office and the Resort Owners Association of Mabini, Batangas.
Now in its 18th year, Shore It Up! Weekend encourages communities to take part in cleanups and mangrove planting, with this year’s theme, “One Hour for the Planet, One Weekend for Our Shores.” Activities also included local Earth Hour observances.
Volunteers—including residents, fisherfolk, students, civic groups, and dive clubs—worked alongside local government units and environmental partners to remove debris from shorelines and nearshore waters. Plastic bottles were the most common waste collected, totaling 13,054 pieces, along with food wrappers, cups, plates, bags, and bottle caps. All litter was properly sorted and handed over to local waste management systems to ensure responsible disposal.
MPIF president Melody del Rosario said the event demonstrates the power of collective action. “We saw people take ownership of their coastal spaces—not just by removing waste, but by protecting and preserving them,” she said. “Shore It Up! continues to grow as a shared responsibility between communities and the environment.”
