BY: Dustin James Bayog
BULACAN- Thousands of sacks of garbage were retrieved in Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach by joint-up forces of volunteers, employees, and private sectors as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022 celebration last September 17.
Volunteers join the mass cleaning activity in artificial Dolomite Beach by picking waste materials and showing support on International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day. Photo credits from Maharlika TV.
With the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), almost 4,000 volunteers took part in the mass cleanup of 60 kilometers or 32 miles of Manila Bay that collected almost 4,500 sacks of garbage.
DENR-Metropolitan Environmental Office (MEO) West OIC Director Rodelina de Villa identified the garbage as mostly plastic waste, dried water hyacinth, and marine debris.
She added that the 3,000 garbage sacks were provided by the DENR Central Office through Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO), while the DENR- National Capital Region including the DENR-MEO West supplied the 1,500 remaining sacks.
Also have their own garbage bag, volunteers, and government workers, with the cooperation of Philippine Coast Guard (PSG) personnel emphasized the importance of conducting cleanup activities to address environmental issues like marine pollution in accordance with the theme of “Fighting for Trash Free Seas-Pilipinas: Ending the Flow of Trash at the Source”.
“This initiative will help make our coastal area in Manila Bay better so that our tourists and visitors will see the beauty of the bay,” Kendrick Lopez, college student, said on Reuters.
"We need to do these (cleanup drives) for our environment and to discourage people from throwing trash on the seaside," Janet Panganiban, another volunteer, told Reuters.
De Villa also said the activity portrayed the importance of addressing coastal litter issues by collaborating with all sectors and initiating cleanup drives in polluted bodies of water across Metro Manila.
“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 reiterated.
Aside from the volunteer groups and private sector, different government bodies and agencies were present to support the activity such as the Manila City government, Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime Group, and Philippine Coast Guard, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Army, and Air Force.
Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., and the Dragon Boat Federation of the Philippines also joined the initiative.
Non-biodegradable wastes such as plastics, sachets, and rubber slippers were collected after the mass cleanup along the coastline of Dolomite Beach. Photo credits from Abante News
Last September 14, DENR employees with disabilities and senior citizens also participated in a cleanup activity on Dolomite Beach’s coastline with the theme of “Where Coastal Cleanup, Special Treats and Selling of PWDs Eco-Friendly Handicrafts Jam Together,”.
It was led by the Persons with Disability (PWD) Desk of the DENR-Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (SCIS) that aimed to promote clean bodies of water and litter and raise awareness about marine pollution.
“We strongly believe that all of our employees, especially our senior citizens and PWDs, should have the same opportunity to engage in our advocacy efforts. This is largely in part of our commitment to an inclusive workplace,” DENR-SCIS Director Khalil S. Bayam stated.
A coastal cleanup group of volunteers from Pasig City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) and the Philippine National Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team Lady Warriors – under the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled also joined the said activity.
READ SOURCE: DENR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES, SENIOR CITIZENS CLEAN UP MANILA BAY FOR INT’L COASTAL CLEANUP DAY 2022
Meanwhile, the celebration of International Coastal Clean-Up Day was signed in 2003 by former president Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo through Presidential Proclamation No. 470 in accordance with Global Coastal Clean-up observance.
It is celebrated every third Saturday of September.
On the other hand, statistics from DENR-MEO-West showed that 147, 939 total sacks of non-biodegradable waste materials were collected in the 500-meter coastline of Manila Bay from July 12 to September 14.
In addition, 83, 109 sacks of water hyacinth, adding the 2,224 sacks of marine debris were also hauled.
Critics say
The mass clean-up activity of Dolomite Beach didn't escape criticism after the DENR invited the public to join the particular activity on its social media platforms.
One commenter said, “You spent millions for the dolomite, then it would be the Filipino people who ended up cleaning,”.
Moreover, the global coordinator of the group Break Free From Plastic Von Hernandez stressed that allocating millions of resources to the root of the problem would be more effective.
“It’s better investment for the government to [just] compel producers and companies to reduce and stop the production of single-use plastics and invest in proven reusable and … refilling systems,”
National coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment Jon Bonifacio emphasized the importance of sustaining a clean shoreline, however,” cleanup drives like this risk just being photo opportunities for our public officials,” he expressed.
The Dolomite Beach project was part of Manila Bay's rehabilitation project led by the DENR capitalizing on its significance in protecting coastal resources in its vicinity and preventing erosion, coastal flooding, and pollution.
READ SOURCE: Dolomite Beach becomes focus of coastal cleanup
KEYWORDS:
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
4,000 volunteers
4,500 sacks of garbage
“Fighting for Trash Free Seas-Pilipinas: Ending the Flow of Trash at the Source”
Manila City government, Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime Group, and Philippine Coast Guard, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Army, and Air Force.
Global Coastal Clean-up
147, 939 total sacks of non-biodegradable waste
plastic waste, dried water hyacinth, and marine debris
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