Cops haul 150 kilos of trash from Santander seas

CEBU, Philippines — Police and other volunteers collected at least 150 kilograms of underwater trash in a cleanup drive yesterday along the Tañon Strait in Santander town, southern Cebu.

The four-hour underwater cleanup drive dubbed as “Oplan Kalikasan” was hosted by Santander police headed by Senior Inspector Margienette Yosores.

Yosores said the event was part of the Ocean Month Celebration.

It was also meant to help maintain and protect the underwater habitat and marine life so it won’t be like Boracay Island.

“Usa sa atong gipanghingusgan nga dili ta mapareha sa Boracay maong nag-initiate ta og ingun ani nga event nga positive pud nga gidawat sa atong Coast Guard, Bantay Dagat, local government unit, resort owners, ug katawhan maong mapasalamaton kaayo ta og dako,” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the shutdown of Boracay for six months owing to perennial environmental problems plaguing the island, the country's top tourist draw.  The closure took effect on April 26.

At least 17 professional divers, including Yosores joined in yesterday’s event.

Most trash thrown to the sea were beverage plastics and glass bottles, tin cans, tires, and different kinds of trash.

Yosores said the volume of rubbish collected was not that alarming.

“Minimal ra ang trash nakuha. Dili man kaayo abused ang dagat diri (Santander area),” she said.

She assured that the cleanup will be done monthly.

Yosores has been an ocean advocate. In 2013, she was awarded as one of the Outstanding Police in Service by the Metrobank Foundation because of her exemplary efforts in preserving the ocean and its marine habitat in Talisay City. — KBQ (FREEMAN)