Volunteers participate in the coastal cleanup of Manila Bay in honor of the annual ICC Day. (Photo from ABS-CBN News, shot by George Calvelo)
In celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) teamed with over 4,000 volunteers to clean up Manila Bay Dolomite Beach on September 17.
With the theme, “Fighting for trash-free seas-Pilipinas: Ending the flow of trash at the source,” DENR held the activity as one of eight cleanup campaigns in Metro Manila to honor the annual ICC day, held every third Saturday of September.
The number of garbage gathered within the 500-meter beach reached about 4,500 sacks, which, as stated by DENR-Metropolitan Environmental Office West OIC Director Rodelina de Villa, mainly consists of plastic wastes, dried water hyacinths, and marine debris.
“Volunteers from government, private organizations, and private individuals came to the Baywalk’s coastline with their own garbage bags as well,” de Villa said in a statement released September 30.
Prior to the cleanup, DENR also posted a public advisory on their Facebook page, inviting private individuals to participate in the activity.
Volunteers clean up a mass of water hyacinths gathered on the shore. (Photo from DENR-National Capital Region)
In addition, the Manila City government, Metropolitan Development Authority, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard, Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., and the Dragon Boat Federation of the Philippines teamed up with DENR in the Baywalk cleanup.
“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 stated as she highlights the necessity of collaboration among sectors to address the litter problem through targeted beach cleanup activities.
Preceding the cleanup drive, the aftermath of Typhoon Henry was seen through debris and washed-up trash on the coast of Manila Bay Dolomite Beach.
According to Myleen Robles, an MMDA Metro Aide who claimed to gather at least 600 sacks of trash a day during their daily cleanup, stated that the number of coastal litter tends to be seasonal. She also claimed that there is a usual increase in washed-up waste during typhoons and southwest monsoons due to rough waves carrying trash toward the coast.
Meanwhile, after the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach cleanup, Typhoon Karding landed in the country, leaving almost 200 plus sacks of gathered trash.
Von Hernandez, global coordinator of the group Breakfree from Plastic claimed, “We can’t be spending millions of resources without addressing the roots of the problem.”
“It’s better to compel producers and companies to reduce and stop production of single-use plastics and invest in proven reusable and refill systems,” added Hernandez.
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Manila Bay | Cleanup
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