MA. ANTONIA YULO-LOYZAGA
General Santos City, October 24 – In support of the operationalization of environmental law enforcement in the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), the PENRO South Cotabato conducted monitoring and surveillance in Barangay Bula, General Santos City, on October 23, 2024.
The activity aimed to detect illegal activities, particularly in the mangrove area within the barangay. Observations during the monitoring revealed an accumulation of solid waste, including plastic waste, single-use plastics, footwear, and food packaging, washed ashore due to recent heavy rains and tidal activity caused by Typhoon Kristine.
In response, the team initiated an initial coastal clean-up effort, collecting three sacks of solid waste, which were turned over to Barangay Bula’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
During a coordination meeting with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Barangay Bula, the team was informed that a coastal clean-up activity would be held the following day as part of the “Araw ng Bula” celebration. The monitoring and surveillance activities are conducted quarterly to detect and deter illegal environmental activities within the nine coastal barangays of General Santos City.
