ORION, Bataan — Members of the Young Bataeños for Environmental Advocacy Network (YoungBEAN) advocated for an end to plastic pollution, especially the single-use plastics that they said pollute rivers, destroy biodiversity, and leave communities with the problem.
Enrique Beren, YoungBEAN secretary-general, articulated on the issue during the group’s clean-up of mangroves in Barangay Camachile in Orion on Sunday. “Plastic pollution destroys mangroves and threatens the sustainability of our marine biodiversity.”
He said that it was not yet too late to take action against plastic pollution. “There is still time if we only act together to end the problem.”
The clean-up drive in one of the thriving mangrove areas in Bataan is the culmination of activities for the January End Plastics Pollution Month initiated by YoungBEAN aimed at raising awareness among the youth and the communities regarding the worsening plastic pollution.
“We at YoungBEAN believe that plastic products especially single-use plastics are not recyclable nor reusable, worst, it ends up to the rivers and oceans that clogs our waterways causing flood and kills mangroves and other marine resources,” Beren said.
He enumerated the many benefits derived from mangroves that support the production of food and serve as natural defense during storm surges and flooding of seaside communities.
The clean-up drive in the mangrove area in Orion was supported by Ecowaste Coalition and joined by more than 60 young people from Nuclear/Coal Free Bataan Movement, Barangay Camachile Sangguniang Kabataan and various groups from Limay Polytechnic College.
“No to single- use plastics! End plastics pollution now,” the participants echoed. Photos: Derek Cabe/KPD-Bataan
