PANGLAO, BOHOL — On May 21, 2026, this island's famed white-sand shores became the frontline of an underwater battle. As part of the nationwide "Scubasurero Drive," hundreds of volunteers waded into the waters off Panglao for a simultaneous coastal and underwater cleanup. By the time the last sack was hauled ashore, the divers and community members had pulled approximately 250 kilograms of trash from one of the country's most beloved marine playgrounds.
The drive, spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region VII, was the largest single cleanup among the three Central Visayas sites. Simultaneous operations in Moalboal and Malapascua in Cebu collected 44 kilograms and 61 kilograms respectively. Across the region, the combined effort filled 61 sacks with 355 kilograms of garbage. The event formed part of the Month of the Ocean 2026 celebration, themed "Sustaining Ocean Health, Sailing a Resilient Nation."
A Tourism Engine Fueled by Pristine Waters
The sheer volume of waste pulled from Panglao's reefs and shorelines underscores a critical economic reality for Bohol. Panglao's beaches and world-renowned dive sites, including those off Balicasag Island, are not just ecological treasures. They are the bedrock of the province's tourism economy, drawing thousands of visitors and sustaining countless livelihoods. Allowing these assets to be choked by marine debris directly threatens the industry.
In 2022 alone, the local government of Panglao earned at least P14 million in environmental user fees from the five dive sites around Balicasag Island. The national Scubasurero campaign is a direct defense of that revenue. “Our oceans are lifelines that sustain communities and future generations. Protecting our seas is a shared responsibility of every Filipino,” said DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Laudemir Salac.
307 Volunteers, 61 Organizations
The cleanup mobilized more than 307 volunteers from 61 partner organizations across the region, highlighting growing public support for marine conservation. In Panglao, 17 divers from 15 dive groups joined as scubasureros. Diving volunteer Lloyd Leones captured the personal motivation behind the effort. "Being a diver, I really see the beauty of the ocean and how trash is destroying it. It's our personal and resource goal to really help serve our oceans and beach side," he said.
The campaign, dubbed "Dive? Linis Din! Ano, Tara?", was deliberately designed to fuse tourism with environmental stewardship. The DENR reiterated its call for communities, local government units, tourism stakeholders, and environmental groups to strengthen responsible waste management practices. For Panglao, the message is clear: protecting the marine ecosystem is not just an environmental imperative but a core business strategy for one of the Philippines' most important tourism destinations.
