350 kilos of trash, marine debris collected in Boracay underwater clean-up drive

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Around 350 kilos of assorted garbage and marine debris were collected by a team of divers during a synchronized underwater clean-up drive in Malay, Aklan over the weekend.

Conducted in consonance to the celebration of the 38th Founding Anniversary of the PCG District Western Visayas, the activity was done in the waters off Boracay Island on Saturday.

Personnel of PCG-Aklan Station, Special Operation Unit (SOU)–Aklan, PCG Sub-Station Boracay, together with volunteer divers from the Boracay Business Administration of Scuba Shops, led the marine environmental protection initiative in cleaning up approximately 1,500 square meters of coastline.

Chief Petty Officer Jackielou Ang, PCG-Aklan Station chief master-at-arms, said most of the collected trash were bottles of liquor and other beverages.

They also collected plastic bottles, nets, and plastic wrappers.

Ang said they hold regular monthly underwater clean-up operations. When there are requests or celebration, the PCG personnel also embark on coastal clean-up campaign.

“This is one of our efforts for preservation of marine dip resort and raising of awareness on environmental consciousness among the local populace,” she said.

The PCG said such efforts will also serve “as an opportunity to make a difference in the global movement of reducing waste thrown to bodies of water by getting rid of trash and/or debris at the shoreline and at the bottom of the sea as these compounds cause harm to marine animals through ingestion and entanglement.”

In a statement, the PCG said, despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the agency continues to encourage local residents to support marine environmental protection initiatives citing that nature’s conservation plays a crucial role in combating climate change, biodiversity loss, and health risks.