ATI teaches port kids on marine biodiversity, cleaner seas

January 07, 2019

Attuned with its corporate commitment to protect the environment, listed Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) has rolled out a unique community outreach program that aims to promote marine biodiversity education and preservation among Manila’s youth.

Through its Lakbay-Aral para sa Kabataang Pier (Educational field trip for port kids) program, which forms part of its dynamic corporate sustainability initiatives, ATI recently invited children from communities nearby Manila South Harbor, treating them to a day of fun learning at the Philippines’ premier marine theme park and educational facility, the Manila Ocean Park, home to over 14,000 marine creatures indigenous to the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

With the help of ATI’s environment experts and other community volunteers, children aged 5 to 12 were gamely acquainted with the fragile marine species and more importantly taught on ways to respect and protect such vital resources, with the hopes of bringing their learning to their respective homes and schools as advocates of cleaner seas.

Over 50 children from Manila’s barangay 649 to 653 benefited from the educational trip, all first timers to access the marine theme park which is within a kilometer from their homes.

Leading by example, ATI ensures that its port business do not adversely impact its marine environment. The company adheres to stringent global environmental standards following its comprehensive Integrated Management System which includes its Environment Management (ISO 14001:2015) System certification.

As part of this, ATI has long been using wastewater treatment facilities, including oil and water separators, to cure effluents generated during cleaning of port equipment and facilities. Treated water are then reused for other purposes.

Back in 2017, ATI invested in its own inflatable oil spill boom system, ready for deployment in case of a maritime spill.

ATI’s other infrastructure and initiatives include the provision of emergency shut-off valves at the terminal drains, partnership with Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch)for recycling and disposal of used vehicle batteries and tapping of solid wastehaulers accredited by the DENR.

The port company also uses its own resources in regularly clearing flotsam washed along the port’s shores, while sending hundreds of employee volunteers to coastal clean-up drives.