
The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 607th Squadron under the leadership of PCGA Captain Maricar Quiro, in cooperation with the Coast Guard Station Bacolod Headed by CDR Joe Luviz Mercurio, recently conducted a coastal cleanup and mangrove planting at Purok Bolinao in Barangay 1 spearheaded by Punong Brgy. Cesar Rellos Jr. in Bacolod, the City of Smiles.
Close to a hundred volunteers were present that day, including Aux. Captain Pinky Tupas, Aux. Commander Manuel Ong; Aux. Ltjg Es Jemiera; Aux. Ltjg Menchie Laurella and Aux. Captain Radjie Caram Jr., current NAMO Chief-of-Staff for Information, Communications and Technology support group and Chairman of Island Living Channel.
The activity is part of the birthday celebration of PCGA Captain Quiro, who sponsored the logistics and the mangrove propagules.




As the sun rose over the horizon, beaming its golden rays to the seashore of Barangay 1, the Philippine Coast Guard, the PCGA, fishermen and resident volunteers eagerly trooped to the shoreline. It was low tide on this fine Saturday morning. As we arrived in Barangay Bolinao, a sight reminiscent of a mini Smoky Mountain greeted us. Instead of the fresh breeze of sea air, instead of a beach teeming with live shells and crabs, it was seafront filled with all kinds of rubbish!
Volunteers immediately went to work, armed with sacks, brooms, and gloves. With lively spirits, these green-earth guards removed as much rubbish as their sacks can hold. In its own humble way, the PCGA 607th Squadron was doing its share in giving back Mother Earth. After the cleanup, the Squadron did mangrove planting in the newly cleaned areas of the shoreline, giving a spark of hope to a dream that soon this place will thrive again with mangroves, and that Prk. Bolinao Brgy. 1 again become a home to fishes in the near future.*

