Today, Sept. 20, the world observes World Cleanup Day, a global movement that goes beyond simple clean-up efforts to spotlight humanity’s mounting waste crisis. Officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, this day reminds us of our collective responsibility to care for the Earth—not just with brooms and trash bags, but with bold decisions and lasting solutions. In the Philippines, Presidential Proclamation 470 signed in 2003, declares every third Saturday of September as the International Coastal Cleanup Day. Activities focus on the cleanup of the coast, rivers and waterways led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Philippines, with the theme “Fight for plastic free seas, Pilipinas: Ending the flow of trash at the source.”

World Cleanup Day 2025: Humanity's mounting waste crisis [Editorial]. (2025, September 20). Manila Bulletin, p. 5.