Collections of trash bearing Chinese marks had piled up at the coastline of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. Environmental concerns emanated from the collection of waste. Experts said that the wastes pose a great threat to the marine life existing on the island.
Scattered along the island’s beach, several bottles and cartons believed to be from Chinese products were also seen as local and international news teams visited the area on Thursday.
At least 12 Chinese maritime militia vessels and a China Coast Guard ship, meanwhile, were spotted in the waters near Pag-asa, which is only 4 nautical miles off the island.
Marilou Vales coordinator of Pag-asa Island said that clean-up operations are conducted twice a month, as the situation demands.
The residents gathered 36 sacks of garbage in merely two hours last time this September during the cleanup; however, much of it seems to be from Chinese vessels.
“Most of the trash is coming from China. Some we don’t know what this is because we cannot read the labels,” Vales said.
The influx of solid wastes overloads the island’s efforts to take care of the environment as residents work hard on segregation and cleanliness activities.
