By Kathleen Zambas
Who could ever resist a picture-perfect sunset or sunrise by the sea? I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to take a photo or two.
Being born and raised in the beautiful islands of Mindanao, I wake up daily to the majestic – albeit familiar – sight of mountains and canyons. And so whenever there’s a chance, I would stop by the coasts. There is something in the place where the shore meets the sea that gives a sense of calm and sweet escape from the urban jungle.
This year, I joined a coastal clean-up drive regularly facilitated by the Haribon Foundation at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA). It was my first time to join the activity as a Haribon member as well as to visit the area.
LPPCHEA is a nature reserve located at the south of Manila Bay covering around 175 hectares of wetland ecosystem and is the first critical habitat to be declared in the country through Presidential Proclamation No. 1412.
Between August and April of each year, the area hosts thousands of birds to rest and feed from as far as China, Japan, and Siberia before making their way to the warmer regions of the planet. Apart from tourist birds, LPPCHEA is also home to different mangrove species that help protect shorelines from erosion and serve as a buffer against strong waves.
But migratory birds aren’t LPPCHEA’s only visitors. The coastline also picks up tons of garbage from neighboring cities. Waves carry various waste materials such as plastics, styrofoam, and rubber that get stuck in mangrove roots, cover the reserve’s sands, and sometimes get caught by visiting birds.
Seeing the deluge of washed-up garbage was quite an experience, to say the least. Even after cleaning the beach for over two hours, the amount of work left undone seems rather endless.
It was then that I remembered one of The Seven Environmental Principles: “Everything must go somewhere.” And I thought, this place must be one of those “somewhere.”
After the clean-up, staff from the Haribon Foundation gave some quick debriefing on the activity and some volunteers also shared their insights.
While certainly an important step to spread awareness on ocean pollution, coastal cleanup drives are not meant to be a lasting endeavor as it does not intend to solve the root of the problem.
According to a recent report, the Philippines is the third major contributor of ocean garbage on the planet, putting ocean wildlife and coastal communities at risk.
More than ever, it is important for all sectors to work together towards making these habitats we share together livable for present and future generations through proper waste management in our homes and across industries.
