By: John David Luna | @The Capitol October 7, 2022
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) collects non-biodegradable waste materials during a coastal clean-up drive at the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach in Manila on Sept. 17, 2022. (Photo by PCG)
MANILA, Philippines — Over 4,000 volunteers participated in recovering at least 4,500 sacks of garbage in the cleanup drive at Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach, managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022 last September 17.
The cleanup activity mobilized volunteers from the government, private organizations, and private individuals, participating in the activity while bringing their own garbage bags.
Having the efforts of the department, the DENR-Metropolitan Environmental Office (MEO) West OIC Director Rodelina de Villa said that garbages collected contains plastic waste, dried water hyacinth, and marine debris.
De Villa stated that the DENR Central Office, through the Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO), provided 3,000 trash bags, while the remaining 1,500 was contributed by the DENR-National Capital Region.
Meanwhile, according to the data of DENR-MEO-West, 147,939 sacks of solid wastes, 3,109 sacks of water hyacinth, and 2,224 sacks of marine debris have been amassed from cleanup activities in the dolomite beach during the span of July 12 to September 14.
A week after the cleanup drive, Super Typhoon Karding raged through the Philippines, where at least 200 sacks of garbage were collected from the P389-million dolomite beach on September 26.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel collect sacks of trash from the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach on Sept. 26, 2022. Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News
Most of the garbage collected the morning after the super typhoon calmed down is single-use plastic waste such as plastic sachets and plastic bottles.
On the other hand, De Villa said, pertaining to the cleanup drive, Manila Baywalk mirrors the participation of all sectors necessary to address the issues of coastal litter through collaborative beach cleanup drives.
“However big and daunting the task is, we can make a difference by bringing communities and people together to clean up beaches. Proof of this are organizations and individuals coming together at the Baywalk Dolomite Beach,” de Villa said.
Keywords:
cleanup drive
Dolomite Beach
Dolomite
Environment
Natural Resources
International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022
plastic wastes
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