More than 1000 kilograms of biodegradable and non-biodegradable marine debris have been collected from shore, mangrove and underwater cleanups in Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas on Saturday.
The bulk of the 1,057.5 kilograms of trash collected were from the shore and mostly composed of plastics and food wrappers, according to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines).
Maye Padilla, WWF’s project officer for environmental education, said that endeavors like this are being done for statistics and information “so that we know how much trash is generated.”
“Hopefully, this will open the eyes and minds of the people that our trashes should be properly disposed of so that they won’t pollute our seas,” she said of the cleanup drive which is part of the 30th anniversary of the International Coastal Clean-up.
WWF-Philippines national ambassador Marc Nelson, the Philippine Army, and members and employee volunteers from Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club and Pico Sands Hotel also supported the activities.
Nelson, who has been involved with WWF-Philippines for the past six years, said that more and more people become aware of the coastal cleanups every year.
“There are a lot of people that are also doing their own thing… I have some friends that have beach houses and they’re organizing coastal cleanups, there are schools that organize coastal cleanups as well,” the TV host said.
“The great thing about it… is getting people to be aware of what needs to be done and once they’re out there picking up the trash and see how much trash there is to be picked up, they become more conscientious about dumping the trash themselves.”
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