COASTAL CLEANUP ANOTHER SUCCESS

The verdant green and blue are still there below and the volunteers and the divers alike were there again to help preserve and conserve such rare and delicate beauties of the world’s seas and oceans.

And so the LWUA Divers’ Club, its friends, together with the Agency’s 501st Water Battalion, held another successful Coastal Cleanup at Sitio Mainit in Anilao, Batangas, venue of numerous coastal cleanups organized by Rod Magno, prexy of the LWUA Divers’ Club based in Balara, Quezon City, Philippines and several other groups. Anilao was again host to the men and women (young and old) who regularly and tirelessly participate in this annual “World Coastal Cleanup Day” held every September in about a hundred countries around the world. Anilao, of course, is a favorite divers haven South of Manila, a bustling metropolis in this part of Asian.

Though this time the numbers were less than last year’s, the 33-strong group went through their set itinerary, hauling in garbage from the beaches and those underneath. Magno’s group hauled in a total of 158 lbs. of debris (67.10 lbs. by divers, 91.35 lbs. from volunteers), less than the 825 lbs. total debris collected last year (with Vista Mar, another popular resort in the area, as venue). The former figures came in 38 bags, compared to 55 rubbish bags used by the 80 divers and volunteers who participated in last year.

The difference in volume notwithstanding, the same potpourri of “harvest” surfaced during the day, plus of course, a few items the group considered as “exceptional” (and consequently awarded for being such). Mineral water bottle caps, ropes (nylon and abaca), hygienic products (cotton buds, sanitary napkins, diapers), wrappers of almost all sorts (biscuit, soap, candy, chocolates, cereals, junk food, etc.), plastic bags, shoes and slippers, medical supplies (syringes, vials, capsules and tablets holders, test tubes), beauty product containers (sachets, shampoo bottles, astringent containers, lotions, etc.), cigarette butts and not surprisingly—many, many more!

Based on such characteristics of garbage year-after-year, one can deduce the following: beach users normally leave their dirt behind; residents near the beaches dump their garbage into the waters; seafarers throw trash into the sea (something is definitely wrong!) All these point to some enhancements or support mechanisms needed to improve or optimize the efforts of the annual clean-up. And Magno couldn’t agree more. First, he agrees that the program should be supported by an intensive information campaign to educate residents that the sea around them must not be used as dumping site for their wastes. Secondly, that key sectors must be involved, like the local government, schools, civic action groups, religious groups, and the likes, must educate their members or constituents on the very essence of the annual clean-up. Thirdly, that people involved in sea travel must also be informed about ways and means on how they can minimize, if not eliminate, their passengers’(and/or their very own bad trash habits). Fourth, that concerned establishments (resorts and other related business) in the area support the activity towards that direction.

During and after the fellowship held (usually during the evening of the cleanup) that day, the group shared thoughts on the annual activity while listening and watching the fun games, the “videoke king and queen” contest, the speeches [short messages by the organizers and the resort manager who was generously awarded free accommodations (with food and drinks!) for the winners]. They all agreed that just like the past clean-ups, friendship, family bonding, are enhanced as well as promoting awareness of Project A.W.A.R.E.’s essential objectives, which is the preservation and conservation of the world’s aquatic wildlife through education, information campaign, training, and the actual participation to the clean-ups. But a lot, lot more need to be done. As mentioned earlier, the cleanup alone is not enough: there is that glaring need to make everyone participate and contribute towards the achievement of the project’s set objectives. “While we continuously promote the fun, the wonders, the adventures, the excitement and the discoveries people can get out of diving, we also realize the magnitude of other support mechanisms necessary to achieve the clean-up’s macro and long-term goals,” Magno admits.

Well., let’s see what happens next September and in the months in-between.