Jeddah PCG Supports the International Coastal Cleanup 2015
Press Release No. 15-2015
29 September 2015 – The Consulate’s Cleanup Group (CCG), led by Consul General Imelda M. Panolong, volunteered and joined in the International Coastal Cleanup 2015 on 18 September 2015 held at Kaleeg Salman-Buhayrat City, North Obhur in Jeddah, K.S.A.
A total of 2,176 volunteers participated in the activity including 60 Filipino community organizations, students and teachers from the accredited Philippine Schools based in Jeddah, including those from international schools as well as other nationality groups in Jeddah. The volunteers gamely and efficiently collected refuse that included carpets, wooden planks and steel rods, plastic spoons and forks and other things made of plastic. After the collected rubbish were loaded on eight Dyna trucks for proper disposal, the participants proceeded to celebrate by having a group “picnic” and enjoyed their breakfast.
This annual environmental activity, which promotes the proper use and maintenance of coasts and beaches, their cleanliness, safety and marine life, was organized by the Alliance of Proactive Organizations Center for Environmental Advocacy (APOCEA). APOCEA leader Peddie Holanda said the beach cleanup is part of the awareness campaign to make people become active participants in conserving nature. According to Alhamrani-Fuchs Petroleum Saudi Arabia Ltd., the cleanup major sponsor, it did not hesitate to sponsor the event since it was well within the company’s corporate mission and core value of not only respecting nature but also “doing everything we can to preserve nature.”
Consul General Imelda M. Panolong led a big delegation from the Philippine Consulate in solidarity with the community groups. “It’s important for everybody to be aware of the state of our oceans and waters and to do something about it,” she said in a speech at the opening of the cleanup-cum-picnic.
“It is one thing to know and another thing to really act on it; the consciousness and awareness should just not stop there and that we should continue doing it in our daily lives in our special and humble way,” she added. END.
