The Philippines is now taking more steps to achieve cleaner and livelier seas as Century Tuna kicked off its Saving Our Seas Campaign, becoming the biggest beach clean-up in the history of Mabini, Batangas. In partnership with the impact organization HOPE, and Aling Tindera’s Waste-to-Cash program which encourages the public to become responsible in plastic waste management — the country’s leading canned tuna brand aims to continue their Saving Our Seas program not just this year, but also in the years to come.

Being in the canned tuna industry for more than 40 years, Century Tuna wants to stay and provide nourishment to Filipinos for hundreds of years and beyond. In order to do that, the brand aims to fish sustainably by removing anything that makes the seas unhealthy.

Carlo Endaya, VP & GM of Branded Tuna Business together with Mabini Mayor Nilo M. Villanueva, and Greg Banzon, EVP & COO of Century Pacific Food, Inc. during the clean-up weekend

“We should see it as a historic moment because Century Tuna has moved forward in terms of taking an initiative on sustainability, by putting together the right elements that will make it sustainable. I think it's a start, and given the response, it's inspiring to continue this campaign,” said Century Pacific Food, Inc. EVP & COO Mr. Greg Banzon.

Century Tuna Superbods Selena Reyes & Michelle Arceo, together with Yannick Tuason picking up trash on the shores of Anilao, Batangas

The commencement of the campaign which started in Anilao, Batangas saw a successful turnout, as the first day of the shore and reef clean-up gathered a total of 156 trash bags with 805.4 kilograms of trash collected by a total of 212 clean-up volunteers, joined by Century Tuna Ambassador Alden Richards and the Century Tuna Superbods. This makes the event the biggest beach clean-up ever in Mabini, Batangas.

HOPE Managing Director Ilusion Farias & Founder Nanette Medved-Po carrying bags filled with trash collected under the sea

Mr. Carlo Endaya, Century Pacific Food, Inc.’s VP & GM for Branded Tuna Business emphasized that even if the clean-up started in Anilao, the program will happen nationwide.

“We still want everybody in the Philippines to join even if they're not at the beach, because plastic pollution prevention starts in our home. Our usage of plastic has to make its way into the right material and recovering facility, and the Aling Tindera sites are also nationwide. That's what we want to communicate to people,” said Mr. Endaya.

SOS Volunteers picking up waste from the shores and reef of Anilao, Batangas

More than just a clean-up activity, Century Tuna aims to inspire Filipinos through the Saving Our Seas campaign to take part in lessening the plastic pollution in the seas, and taking action to clear away existing plastic waste. With the help of the public in joining the advocacy, the brand’s goal is to collect 10 metric tons of plastic away from the seas this year.

“We want to create more awareness for sustainability and more awareness towards taking plastic out of the system so that microplastics don’t leak into our ocean and eventually go into our food. We want to inspire more people to join the initiative as any effort, whether big or small, is important for our future,” said Mr. Leonardo Po, Director & Treasurer of Century Pacific Food, Inc.

[left] Leonardo Po, Director & Treasurer of CPFI, giving thanks to the SOS volunteers after the clean-up program [right] SOS commemorating Earth Hour

Century Tuna Superbods Samantha Lo, Kathleen Paton, and Kirk Bondad together with Tim Yap and Century Tuna Ambassador Alden Richards during the community visit in Anilao, Batangas

Prior to the campaign, Century Tuna has been plastic-neutral in their operations for 3 years now. The brand recognizes Aling Tindera and HOPE Foundation as the gamechangers in completing the plastic circular economy, as they allow communities to earn money from collecting plastic, and makes sure that the plastic collected goes to the right facilities to be properly recycled or disposed of.

Marine Conservationist Robert Suntay, Anilao Dive Instructor Avic Maramot, and Mabini Tourism Representative Ian Bueno during the program primer

Alongside the Saving Our Seas campaign launch, Century Tuna also introduced their newest product Ventresca, the brand’s most premium tuna full of indulgence. The brand also commemorated this year’s Earth Hour movement during the event as a symbol of commitment to saving the planet.

Century Tuna’s “Saving Our Seas'' campaign is just a start of their many initiatives to help our planet. The campaign is not just a one-time, big-time event, as the brand still continues to track the plastic recovered in Anilao sites monthly. It also aims to stay aware of other clean-up efforts done by different organizations and find ways to support/help them—and ultimately save the planet.

For more information, feel free to visit the newest Saving our Seas microsite at centurytuna.ph/SavingOurSeas/ or visit Century Tuna Saving Our Seas on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CenturyTunaSavingOurSeas/ or @centurytunasuperbods on Instagram for more updates.