Employees of leading renewable energy producer First Gen Corporation joined a coastal cleanup drive on May 30, 2026, at the Freedom Island portion of the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park in Metro Manila as part of the Month of the Ocean celebration in the Philippines.
The activity, coordinated by First Gen volunteers under their Employee POWER (EmPOWER) program, brought together employees and dependents from the First Gen Group and the broader Lopez Group community.
It was held in collaboration with First Gen’s Create for the Climate program and in partnership with Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA), a nonprofit organization that mobilizes volunteers to help address social and environmental challenges such as marine pollution and climate change.
Located within the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park, Freedom Island forms part of an internationally recognized wetland and one of Metro Manila’s important remaining coastal ecosystems. Its mangroves, mudflats, and coastal habitats provide refuge for marine life and migratory birds, while also helping buffer nearby communities from flooding, storm surges, and other climate-related impacts.
Through the cleanup, volunteers helped remove marine litter from the shoreline while deepening their appreciation of the role of healthy coastal ecosystems in sustaining biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting nearby communities.
“True environmental stewardship moves beyond awareness into meaningful action. Through efforts like this, we enjoin our employees, communities, and other stakeholders to safeguard the essential ecosystems that sustain us”, First Gen Vice President Shirley Cruz said.
The coastal cleanup drive also reaffirmed First Gen’s continuing commitment to environmental stewardship by helping protect a vital coastal ecosystem that sustains biodiversity, strengthens climate resilience and supports nearby communities. Through the EmPOWER and the Create for the Climate programs, the company continues to open opportunities for employees and communities to turn everyday action into meaningful impact.
This year’s cleanup gathered more than 63 volunteers, who helped remove together 248.8 kilograms of waste from the coastal area.
The Month of the Ocean is observed in the Philippines under Presidential Proclamation No. 57, series of 1998, reminding Filipinos of the need to protect the country’s marine and coastal resources for present and future generations. The activity served as a meaningful prelude to Philippine Environment Month in June, when the Lopez Group marked its annual Lopez Envi Festival.
First Gen Corporation is a leader in renewable energy in the Philippines. With 1,764 megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity, First Gen supplies about one-third of the country’s total renewable electricity through a portfolio that includes geothermal, hydro, wind, solar, and battery storage.
Through its clean energy portfolio and environmental programs, First Gen continues to champion decarbonization while supporting a resilient and just energy transition.
