Standing here near the Pago Bay Beach , you can see both the problem and the solution in action. Trash, hazardous materials, and even an abandoned homeless encampment have taken a toll on this scenic shoreline. 

On Monday, government agencies, local organizations, and volunteers were working together to change that.

“It's been an over two month project under the Lt. Governor's Beautification Task Force and also the state clearing house working with DPR’s Park Police program. Chief Terlaje and Col. Osborn have been spearheading this and they've worked with government agencies, there's quite a few here,” said Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Warren Pelletier.

Volunteers from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Statistics and Plans, Guam Army National Guard, and the Pago Bay Homeowner Association joined forces with the Department of Public Health, Mayors' Offices of Yona and Ordot/Chalan Pago, and the nonprofit TOHGE.

The effort officially kicked off Saturday when the Department of Public Works and the department of corrections cleared debris and removed eight abandoned vehicles.

“It started from one agency reaching out to others seeking help. Everyone wanted to step in to help alleviate the environmental hazards and trash. The big point was finding a solution for the families that had been living down here. just seeing everyone here working together feels really great,” said Chelsa Muna, Department of Agriculture Director. 

For Muna and her team, this project is about more than just cleaning up.

“As a natural resource agency, it definitely speaks to our hearts-we're getting to clean an ecosystem, there's lots of native plants, flora and fauna, and we want to make it a nice environment for everyone,” said Muna. 

From the little creatures to the families who will get to enjoy the spot, it truly is a beautiful gem.

With agencies and volunteers working side by side, this project is more than just a cleanup, it’s a commitment to keeping our island beautiful.

“Their government agencies really made a concerted effort. This was weeks and weeks of planning, weeks of finding solutions, weeks of collaborating and volunteering offering services and support they can provide to each other.it was really a beautiful synergy,” added Muna.