DENR intensifies protection of coastal areas in C. Luzon

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has intensified its cleanup efforts in the 610-kilometer coastline of Central Luzon to protect its coastal ecosystems and marine life against water pollution by removing trash and debris from beaches, river systems, waterways and other water bodies.

 

Paquito Moreno, Jr., executive director of DENR in Central Luzon, said aside from the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation program that focuses on cleaning river systems in the region, the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), a DENR flagship program in the sustainable management of marine resources and water quality in coastal areas, was also a vital tool of the government in protecting coastal and marine resources.

 

"In fact, through this program, a total of 37,170 kilograms of mixed wastes were collected from coastal cleanup activities conducted last year in Aurora, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, and Zambales," he said.

 

He added that the DENR is serious in its campaign to clean and rehabilitate various water bodies in the region to sustain its life support and function systems.

 

Moreno appealed to the public to keep coastal areas plastic-free by practicing proper waste segregation at home and reducing utilization of single-used plastics.

 

DENR records show that most of the waste collected from coastal areas are composed of cigarette butts and single-used plastics, such as food wrappers, pet bottles, straws, and plasticwares.

 

Even in this time of the pandemic, we are together apart in sustaining our coastal and marine resources, Moreno added. (-30-)