HICC Earth Day Clean-Up In HINP
by MANUEL HERNAEZ
(5/25/2007 10:50:15 AM)
ALAMINOS CITY- In celebration of 2007 Earth Day, the Hundred Islands Cycling Club (HICC) - Environment Volunteer Service , in coordination with the Office of the City Mayor, conducted a four-part summer litter-reduction mission in the famous Hundred Island National Park. Set recently last April 9, 2007,led by their Club President, Johnny R. Purganan, and 18 environment mountain bikers to assist in keeping a litter-free island for at least a day, as an annual club tradition. Armed with their yellow gloves and extended spoke-poles , picked up as many litters their hands could reach, explore both odd and wonders in the islands , usually takes all collected trash back to the main land . This is in line with HICC’s award-winning concept , the GreenTrek Project , a multi- environment advocacy and volunteer action program.
View Photos of Litter Reduction @ HINP >>
Among the objectives of the HICC’s GreenTrek Project is to promote a LITTER-FREE 100 ISLANDS , to help each City’s designated Island caretakers, maintenance staff and its instrumentalities reduce the incidence of unwanted non- biodegradable litters , by retrieving commonly isolated and unattended litter or trash. Most are not found in common tourist main trails and thorough fairs, and inland and shoreline facilities. HINP Litter-Reduction Mission is a specialty litter-hunting scheme aimed to retrieve all litters found in old open dumps site , burned-trash areas , litters thrown behind thick bushes ,hidden underneath vegetation , behind high rise karsified rock formations, inserted inside deep holes, ravin and rock cleavages, above and below natural rock cantilevers which are left unattended for quite sometime. If these non-biodegradable litters are left weathered and drifted naturally through surface run-offs during rain season , the impact therefore, will potentially pose threat to both the island and marine eco-system particularly fishes and marine animals. Volunteers engage with caution and with proper safety procedure on handling these relevant areas.
Since March 2000, HICC to date, had recorded 68 litter-reduction mission surgically conducted in the hundred islands national park alone. Veteran and new volunteers alike engage with low profile and giving the islands an unnoticed relief.
HICC is an accredited and a non-funded youth club in Alaminos City , basically their operation is simple and cost efficient, fueled by their passion for a recreational volunteer work , they acquired their cleaning paraphernalia, packed meals and fares from their own pockets. Through GreenTrek Project, it have launched similar litter-reduction missions in various municipalities in western Pangasinan, among cited are the Benmatya-Cacupangan Caves (Mabini), Tara Falls ( Bolinao, Sambay Falls ( Burgos) and Baybay Norte Coastlines (Sual) in close coordination with each local municipal executives. With their partnership with CENRO-Alaminos City, HICC had documented works for Watershed and Wetland Reforestation Assistance in Villacorta (Mabini), Camagsengalan ( Sual ) and with Philippine Tourism Authority -HINP ( 2000-2004) Mangrove area at Monkey Island HINP (Alaminos City). Conducted seven seven (7) Annual Youth and Environment Congress, trained and mobilized a total of 592 youth volunteers and gained 82 regular members, representing different municipalities in the district.
April 11, 2003,HICC is a National Awardee- Organization , cited as among the 2003 Ten Accomplished Youth Organization ( TAYO ) Search by the National Youth Commission- Office of the President , awarded by Her Excellency Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroya at the Malacanang Palace , Manila , for their accomplished volunteering works in service of the youth and environment . June 30, 2003, HICC is a recipient of the DENR Regional Gawad Likas Yaman for Environmental Excellence, as Best NGO-Youth Environmental Partner in Region 1.
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