By Jessica V. Maron | @jessicavm_TRL | 07 October 2022
The Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach underwent a deep cleaning on September 17 that yielded at least 4,500 sacks of garbage consisted mostly of plastic wastes, dried water hyacinth, and marine debris. Over 4,000 volunteers, including those from the government, private organizations, and private individuals participated in the massive cleanup drive. The event was part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022 celebrations led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). One of eight clean-up events in Metro Manila organized by DENR in celebration of ICC Day, which is celebrated every third Saturday in September. This year's event is centered on the theme “Fighting for Trash Free Seas-Pilipinas: Ending the Flow of Trash at the Source”
Baywalk in Manila Dolomite Beach
Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach, often called and known as "Dolomite Beach", is an artificial beach made by nourishing the sand on the shore of Manila Bay in Manila, Philippines It used to be the best location in the country to experience and capture amazing sunset views but over time, the Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard became an eyesore. The Duterte administration thus pushed for the Manila Bay rehabilitation program in consonance with the writ of Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court despite all the odds and the criticism on the rehabilitation and beautification of the area. Now, it is no longer the government appreciating its improvement, but the people who are excited to experience a sort of “Miami” feel of a white beach within the metropolis. Manila Bay’s dolomite beach is a 500-meter by 60-meter structure built by the national government, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with geoengineering interventions. Manila Bay used to be the catch basin of all the wastes coming from the city and nearby areas. Its waters contained not only high levels of fecal coliform bacteria from human wastes, but also wastes coming from nearby hotels, houses, and even hospitals, according to Marita Moaje of the Philippine News Agency.
As reported by Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau, Manila Bay inadvertently serves as one of Metro Manila’s dump site where sewage from households, industries, and agriculture flow untreated and unchecked. Solid wastes like plastic products, food scraps, disposable diapers, and sanitary napkins float aimlessly. Overfishing and oil spills from ships and tankers poison and kill the surviving wildlife. Pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, and abundant levels of fecal coliform all contribute to the bay’s continued degradation. It is extremely alarming, and if neglected to sanitize for a long time, trash will continue to worsen. As a result, it is crucial to keep Manila Bay constantly clean, and the ICC project is here to assist with beach maintenance.
International Coastal Cleanup for Trash-Free Seas
According to the article of Marine Litter Solutions, International Coastal Cleanup is the largest volunteer effort for ocean’s health. People around the world gather on beaches, coasts, rivers, waterways, and underwater dive sites to remove trash and record information on the debris collected. The Philippines officially joined the ICC in 1994 with the International Maritime Alliance (IMA) as the country coordinator and more than 3,000 volunteer cleaned the shorelines and underwater sites and since 1998, the Philippines has consistently topped the ICC, in terms of volunteer turnout, and has been recognized as “the clean-up capital of the world”. The objectives of the International Coastal Cleanup is to engage people around the world to remove trash and debris from beaches, waterways and other water bodies, to identify the sources of the litter, to change behaviors that causes pollution and to raise awareness on the extent of the marine debris problem.
The goal of the ICC Day program is to create a balanced and healthy ocean that is free of contamination and waste. As a result, people can live cleaner and healthier lives with less pollution. Its objective is to assist in cleaning and sanitizing the the oceans, rivers, lakes, and waterways while also bringing focus to the increasing problems of marine waste.
Save the oceans, save the mankind
The ocean, which is the world's greatest water reservoir, is the source of all life. Over 96% of the water on Earth is found in the seas, which also cover more than 70% of the planet's surface. It does in fact play a vital role in our lives and is extremely important. We are tied to the ocean with every breath we take and every drop of water we consume. The health of the oceans is essential to the maintenance and sustainability of our planet. In addition, the oceans are also one of the largest carbon reservoirs in the Earth system, holding up to 54 times more carbon than the atmosphere, according to the book by the Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership.
Sadly, based on the article of National Geographic, ocean faces major threats including global climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species, and a dramatic decrease in ocean fish stocks. These threats to the ocean are so extensive that more than 40 percent of the ocean has been severely affected and no area has been left untouched. Consequently, humanity is losing the food, jobs, and critical environmental services that a healthy ocean generates.
The oceans are a powerful resource, but they are not infinite, especially if we continue to abuse them by scattering garbage everywhere. We cannot and should not undervalue the ocean's importance to our planet and human life. To protect and save them from the rising levels of pollution, it is crucial that we take immediate action. Thankfully, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was established, which greatly aids in cleaning and conserving the ocean. The project was first celebrated in 1986 after President Proclamation No. 470 and over the years, it has continued to be observed and the event has been held in various nations all over the world.
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022 in the Philippines was successfully carried out in the various areas of the nation, including Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach with the help of the volunteers, where we can obviously have seen the depiction of the Bayanihan which is one of the characteristics of the Filipinos. DENR-Metropolitan Environmental Office (MEO) West OIC Director Rodelina de Villa said that 3,000 of the 4,500 sacks were provided by the DENR Central Office through the Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO), while 1,500 trash bags came from the DENR-National Capital Region, which includes the DENR-MEO West. The Manila City government, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime Group, and Philippine Coast Guard were among the private and public institutions who contributed additional trash bags for the project. Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., and the Dragon Boat Federation of the Philippines also joined in the activity. According to De Villa, the Manila Baywalk reflects the collaboration among all sectors that is necessary to address coastal litter through targeted beach cleanup activities.
Data from the DENR-MEO-West, whose responsibility it is to supervise the preservation of the 500-meter beach walk, reveals that from July 12 to September 14, cleanup efforts resulted in the collection of 147,939 sacks of solid trash. A total of 83,109 water hyacinth sacks, including 2,224 sacks of marine debris, were also recovered during the period.
Austin Downs and Richard Acevedo wrote on their article which can be found in EARTHDAY.ORG. that the Human health is at risk through our inaction. We keep producing large amounts of trash, we do not dispose of it correctly, and in the end that will be our downfall as it is for the environment and wildlife in the ecosystems we all share. We cannot prevent or promote longevity with how we treat our Earth. The more emissions that we produce due to how much trash we generate, affects us long term. One can develop diseases such as asthma, birth defects, cancer, cardiovascular disease, childhood cancer, COPD, infectious diseases, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Bacteria, vermin and insects can also be added to the problem that trash causes.
With the trash properly disposed of, both the risk of contamination to us and all of these undesired items will be reduced. Due to the fact that water is our primary source for nearly everything, people should be educated on proper trash disposal and reminded not to throw garbage, particularly in the rivers, oceans, or any other part of the water.
The oceans not only supply evaporated water to the water cycle, in addition they enable water to flow all through the world as ocean currents. As the same water is circulated all over the world, this means that cleaning the ocean in one spot directly helps the other place. In fact, cleaning up the beaches has a huge impact on the entire planet.
Keywords:
Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach
4,500 sacks of garbage
4,000 volunteers
International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2022
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
rising levels of pollution
Bayanihan
proper trash disposal
References
Moaje, M. (2022, June 15). Manila Bay then and now: Two worlds apart. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1176713
KEEPING MANILA BAY HEALTHIER AND CLEANER. (n.d.). DENR-BMB. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://bmb.gov.ph/index.php/resources/news-and-events/44-keeping-manila-bay-healthier-and-cleaner#:~:text=Manila%20Bay%20inadvertently%20serves%20as,and%20sanitary%20napkins%20float%20aimlessly.
International Coastal Cleanup. (2020b, October 10). Marine Litter Solutions. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.marinelittersolutions.com/projects/international-coastal-cleanup/
Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership. (n.d.). Why are the oceans important? https://hahana.soest.hawaii.edu/cmoreserver/oceanacidification/documents/PML_TechnicalSheet_high_CO2_world.pdf
Why the Ocean Matters | National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/why-ocean-matters/
Earth Day Network. (2021, July 2). How Our Trash Impacts the Environment. Earth Day. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.earthday.org/how-our-trash-impacts-the-environment/
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