6TH ECO RUN TOTALS 289 KILOS OF TRASH FOR ENVIRONMENT MONTH CULMINATION

Philippine Environment Month 2025

JUNE — The running trend in Manolo Fortich continues to thrive as 200 runners joined the celebration of Philippine Environment Month through the 6th Eco Run. Hosted by the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich through the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), in partnership with various organizations, the activity played an essential role in promoting both physical health and environmental protection.

The event was opened at 6 AM on Saturday, June 28, 2025, by Committee Chairperson on Environment, Councilor Rina E. Quiño, who called on participants to see their run as a commitment to environmental responsibility, “This is not just running and fitness, but this is also our commitment and purpose na in each stride, atong gi observe ang environmental protection. To make a noise nga limpyohan gyud nato ang atong palibot while we are fit to fitness.”

MENRO provided sacks to the runners for garbage collection as they followed a route from the Municipal Centennial Plaza in Barangay Tankulan to Pinutos sa Kanto in Barangay San Miguel, which served as the turning point. Water stations were placed along the route, with the finish line set back at the plaza. With a densely populated route and numerous establishments along the way, the runners had the opportunity to collect trash such as discarded diapers, used clothes, plastic bottles, and empty sachets.

This year’s Eco Run gathered over 289 kilos of trash, broken down into 128.6 kilos of residuals, 124 kilos of recyclables, 4 kilos of sanitary waste, and 5 kilos of biodegradables—all collected by dedicated runners covering a total distance of 10 kilometers.

The highest amount of trash collected was 17 kilos, by Jeffrey Talon-an from Barangay Dalirig, a known running enthusiast. In an interview, Talon-an emphasized the importance of individual efforts in keeping the environment clean, “Ato gyud paningkamutan na ma lessen ang atong mga basura kay lain kaayo siya tanawon. Nakakalat lang sa highway. Kani na inisyatibo, hinaot unta ma lessen ang paglabay-labay og basura sa dalan. Especially na kaning mga basura makahatag siya og sakit sa atoa.”

This year’s theme for Philippine Environment Month is “End Global Plastic Pollution,” which advocates for increased awareness and action in the fight against plastic pollution. This is especially relevant for Manolo Fortich, where the risks of pollution could escalate if not addressed—highlighting the importance of proper trash disposal.