The Moalboal Freediving Association (MFA) will lead a community-wide beach and coastal cleanup at Panagsama Beach in Moalboal, Cebu on Monday, June 8, 2026, in observance of World Ocean Day.
Cleanup as a Responsibility
For the group, a cleanup drive is not just about picking up trash. They do it because the ocean cannot clean itself, and they embrace it as an obligation. Since 2025, freediving volunteers have transformed what started as a small initiative among local divers into a full community coalition advocating for the protection of Moalboal's marine environment.
Event Details
The activity will begin at 6:30 a.m. with the cleanup drive at Panagsama Beach in Barangay Basdiot. In an interview with SunStar Cebu on Sunday, June 7, 2026, MFA co-founder Niccolo Stevens Henson noted that trash continuously enters local waters through human activities, tourism, and ocean currents.
"For us in MFA, protecting the ocean is not just a slogan, it is our responsibility," Henson said. "We conduct clean-up drives because the ocean cannot clean itself. As freedivers, we see the situation underwater firsthand, and we know that if we do nothing, the problem only gets worse."
Importance of Clean Oceans
Henson emphasized that keeping the ocean clean is crucial to protect the entire ecosystem, which supports Moalboal's famous sardine run and its tourism industry. "Our message for World Ocean Day is simple: everyone has a role in protecting the ocean. If we all take responsibility for reducing waste and caring for our coastal environment, the collective impact can create lasting positive change for future generations," Henson said.
