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Volunteers cleaned up 45 tons of garbage from Manila Bay beach, restored it to its former glory

Koh Ruide Feb 11, 2019
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Humans have the power to make things right again.

Beaches are one of nature’s most gorgeous creations, and it can be sad to sometimes see them utterly filled with heaps of garbage and trash.

And so it is quite unfortunate to know that Manila Bay in the Philippines has long suffered from rubbish being washed up on its beach during monsoon season, transforming the once-beautiful tourist destination into a nightmare of plastic and debris.

▼ Where is all the sand?

Early morning walk by the sea of rubbish pounding the seawall. #ManilaBay #RoxasBoulevard pic.twitter.com/ohrpCsivkY

— Vandeet Ames (@vanhelsingkamas) July 7, 2014

▼ To make matters worse, strong waves from typhoons
often carry in untold amounts of trash.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jekki Pascual (@jekkipascual)

Polluted waters from several rivers also contribute to the buildup, and for some residents, it has come to a point where they have already gotten used to living among trash.

▼ This is not what children — or anybody for that matter — should endure.

A Filipino boy swims among washed up rubbish in Manila bay, the Philippines, 23 September 2014-by Ritchie B. Tongo pic.twitter.com/Tdk5QY9AwG

— Karya Setia (@kasetia21) September 27, 2014

But on 27 January 2019, 5,000 volunteers led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources hauled sacks of garbage and domestic waste away in a monumental effort to rid Manila Bay of its dirty image.

▼ The project was dubbed as “The battle for Manila Bay”.

Be someone's inspiration before you have the chance to be, inspire the change in someone that will inspire more change in the world.

To all Earth Warriors,
Thankyou for your immediate response and for restoring the beauty of our beloved Manila Bay! Salute to you Ma'am/Sir🙏☝👍 pic.twitter.com/oqqMCK4TiZ

— Lyn (@chewwywyn) January 30, 2019

Previous cleanups have been carried before, but few came close to the 45.59 tons of trash that was collected on the campaign’s first day.

The massive rehabilitation effort cost the government approximately 46 billion Philippine pesos (US$877 million) and would be conducted in three phases that covered eight provinces. Manila Bay was just the start.

▼ The end result was nothing short of astonishing.

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A post shared by GMA Integrated News (@gmanews)

▼ Filipinos finally reclaimed their beautiful beach on 27 January.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Iris Mae Essman (@irismae26)

▼ Locals now flock to witness rubbish-free, pristine sunsets.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeffrey Eurolfan (@_jeffevol_)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has stressed that the project is not a one-off event, and that such cleanups will be performed on a weekly basis.

▼ May Manila Bay retain its perfect sunset for years to come.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Third Rome You (@migothirdy)

Even Japan is not immune to such pollution, but cleanup efforts like Manila Bay’s show that while humans are constantly harming the environment, those same hands can also help reduce impact and restore what is lost with the right mindset.

Source: Nextshark
Featured image: Instagram/gmanews