Tons of garbage collected along Bataan coastline

LIMAY, Bataan – Hundreds of workers from government and the private sector and volunteers on Saturday joined the International Coastal Clean-up Day, collecting tons of garbage along the Bataan coastline.

The participants used rakes, shovels, hoes and their own hands in cleaning the coastal area in 10 towns and one city in the province. Of the 11 towns, Dinalupihan is the only landlocked municipality. Provincial government employees led by Gov. Albert Garcia participated in the clean-up with the theme “Do your Share to Fight for a Healthy Ocean.”

Collected were plastic, water lily, wood, cans, twigs, clothes, sacks and even fishing nets.“Galing sa dagat ang karamihan sa basura tulad ng plastic at water lily. Kapag malaki tubig, dinadala rito ng malakas na hangin at agos,” said 81-year old Marcelino Paulo, resident of a seaside village in Limay, Bataan.

He said that only a few trash came from the locality itself that residents immediately burn. The old man claimed most of the garbage come from Metro Manila that are thrown into rivers and creeks that find its way to Manila Bay. Asked what he wanted to appeal to Metro Manilans, he said “Matagal na ‘yan, bahala na sila. Sawa na kami. Maliit pa ako, ganyan na.” Paulo said.