Wrappers top list of trash in Bicol's coastal waters - DENR

By Oliver Baccay

Plastic food wrappers dominated the number of garbage collected from the coastal waters of Bicol region, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed.

Dolly Christine Gato, DENR ecosystems management specialist, said based from their trash collection report during the International Coastal Clean-up Day this year, there were 1, 511 food wrappers collected in the coastal zones of the region.

Most of the wrappers include different brands of candies, coffee, biscuits, chips and other junk-foods.

Cigarette butts placed second in the list, followed by plastic bags, foams, grocery bags, and other plastic wastes.

She also said gloves, masks and other personal protective equipment were among the list including plastic and glass beverage bottles, and disposable food containers.

"These are contributory to the destruction of our marine habitats and biodiversity loss. That is why we need to collaborate to eliminate these trashes that go into our coastal waters," Gato said.

Gato also recommended to the academe to include in the curriculum of learners lessons relative to environmental management as well as the conduct of symposia or seminars among students on environmental protection.

Commodore Jose Ma Q. Espeleta of the Philippine Navy concurred with the DENR report stating that they also collect hundred kilograms of solid wastes every time they do coastal clean-up initiatives.

"With this, we really need to enjoin the different sectors of our society to help manage well our solid wastes, especially those that will be flowed to the rivers and the coastal zones during flooding," Espeleta said.

He also recommended that communities, including youths and students must draw advocacy campaigns on proper solid waste management as well as on the protection of Bicol's marine biodiversity. (PIA)