TANDAG CITY — This coastal gem in Surigao del Sur is making waves in the battle against ocean trash, officially joining a nationwide push to clean up marine plastics and protect its pristine waters.
Local leaders launched the initiative with beach cleanups, community workshops, and stricter waste rules, aiming to cut single-use plastics and boost recycling. “Our seas feed us and define us—we can’t let pollution win,” Mayor Ramil Rodriguez declared during the kickoff event.
Partnering with environmental groups, the city is training fisherfolk and students to monitor pollution hotspots and turn collected plastics into eco-bricks for public projects. Early efforts already hauled in hundreds of kilos of debris from popular shores.
Residents are rallying behind the cause, with barangays competing in zero-waste challenges. As Tandag sets the example, neighboring towns are taking notes, hoping to keep Caraga’s coastlines blue and bountiful.