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UNRAVELLING MACROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN SEAGRASS BEDS OF ILIGAN CITY, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES (RESEARCHED BY FRANCINE NERI)

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6166310943416637&set=a.203076633073461

Title: UNRAVELLING MACROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN SEAGRASS BEDS OF ILIGAN CITY, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES

Author: Micaela Daggao

Date Published: May 12. 2023

Key Information: The infographic shows how seagrass beds in the ocean ecosystem serve as crucial habitats and food sources for numerous species and collaboration between local legislators.

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao (RESEARCHED BY: BETTINA DELA CERNA)

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URL:https://news.mongabay.com/2019/12/philippine-coastal-town-leads-war-against-plastic-trash-in-mindanao/

Title: Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

Author: Bong S. Sarmiento

Date Published: December 19, 2019

Key Information:  The people of Mindanao are working together to gradually clean up Mindanao's plastic-polluted beaches, giving marine life a better chance of survival.

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

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DAVAO, Philippines - On August 4, 2018, a fisherman found an endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) floating weakly in the Davao Gulf, a diverse marine ecosystem and rich fishing ground spanning 308,000 hectares in the southern Mindanao region. The fisherman brought the stranded juvenile female green turtle ashore where it breathed more easily after a plastic food [...]

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PCG Responds to oil spill in Davao City (RESEARCHED BY: ISH SALES)

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URL:https://www.facebook.com/coastguardph/posts/pfbid02ZoRcKrvao3mcHeaa3Nwupqx3n7hdhcYFLiWXtFWwZo5FuKn2MUV4NeSC7VD4QpE6l

Title: PCG RESPONDS TO OIL SPILL IN DAVAO CITY

Author: Philippine Coast Guard

Date Published: January 4, 2024

Key Information: The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao responded to an oil spill incident at Km 11, Davsam Port, Davao City. The PCG's response team manages and controls the recovered mixed diluted waste oil by utilizing oil spill absorbent boom and pads. As investigations continue, the PCG is actively working to verify the source of the maritime incident, underscoring the importance of swift and thorough action to mitigate environmental damage and ensure liability for such events.

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𝐏𝐂𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐈𝐋 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐎 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘

The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao has responded to an oil spill incident at Km 11, Davsam Port, Davao City, on 02 January 2024. 

The maritime...

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 Let us join hands in fighting against marine pollution by knowing one of the deadliest forms of ocean trash – 𝘽𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙉𝙎 (RESEARCHED BY ISH SALES)

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8.) PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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8.) PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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URL:https://fb.watch/qxvBlF6aX3/?mibextid=oFDknk

Title: Let us join hands in fighting against marine pollution by knowing one of the deadliest forms of ocean trash – 𝘽𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙉𝙎

Author: DENR Northern Mindanao

Date Published: September 29, 2021

Key Information: The balloons, when released, eventually deflate and fall into the ocean, where marine animals mistake them for food or become entangled in them, leading to injury or death. Hence, raising awareness and actively working to reduce the release of balloons and other forms of marine debris is crucial for protecting the marine ecosystem in Mindanao and ensuring the sustainability of its coastal communities.

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One Mindanao: Illegal Fishing (RESEARCHED BY: BETTINA DELA CERNA)

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URL:https://youtu.be/BGyVldl-GT8

Title: One Mindanao: Illegal Fishing

Author:  GMA Regional TV

Date Published: June 25, 2021

Key Information: Nine fishermen were apprehended for unlawfully fishing in the waters of Samal Island, Davao City. They were caught utilizing air compressors, which are prohibited by the Philippine Fisherman's Code. The fishermen were in possession of explosives, enhanced dynamite, and firearms.

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Citizens’ improper waste disposal results to nature distraction, causing the Mindanao’s water quality become polluted. (RESEARCHED BY: HANNAH FERNANDEZ)

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URL:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322414691_Water_Quality_Mindanao_Island_of_the_Philippines

Title: Water Quality: Mindanao Island of the Philippines

Author: Angelo Mark Walag, Olivia Canencia, Beth Ann Fiedler

Date Published: May 2018

Key Information:The Philippines is dominated by water. Water supply in Mindanao plays an important role in the natural resources. potential danger and pollution post a threat to the natural water source of  Mindanao. Several strategies to fight this growing threat are taken into consideration for a greater future of the water quality.

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Hisgutanang Klima sa Mindanao: Tackling plastic pollution (RESEARCHED BY: ISH SALES)

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URL:https://climatereality.ph/2024/01/25/hisgutanang-klima-sa-mindanao-tackling-plastic-pollution/

Title: Hisgutanang Klima sa Mindanao: Tackling plastic pollution

Author: Marisol Tuso

Date Published: January 25, 2024

Key Information: World Clean-up Day highlighted ongoing efforts by Climate Reality Leaders in Mindanao to combat plastic pollution, a significant threat in the region. Their initiatives include community clean-up drives, advocacy campaigns, and education programs to mitigate environmental damage and address the global climate crisis exacerbated by plastic pollution in coastal areas.

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In 2019, the Philippines was recorded as the world's biggest plastic polluter. The country was responsible for 36.38% of global oceanic plastic waste, far more than the second-largest plastic polluter, India, which in the same year accounted for about 12.92% of the total.

In a virtual hang-out held during the World Clean-up Day, Climate Reality Leaders in Mindanao shared insights and their ongoing efforts to address the threats of plastic pollution-a persisting problem in the country that is not just an environmental or public health concern but also a significant contributor to the global climate crisis.

Here are some updates from our Climate Reality Leaders in the region:

In the Caraga region, I led the initiative of the Butuan Bay International Coastal Clean-up Drive through the Butuan Bay Development Alliance (BBDA) and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Agusan del Norte on 14 September 2023 in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. Joined by the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources CARAGA, the Department of Environment and Natural Resource CARAGA, the Philippine Coastguard, the Philippine Commission on Urban Poor, members of the academe, the Municipal Government Unit of Buenavista, and other civic organizations, the initiative was part of a public awareness campaign on the adverse effects of plastic pollution to marine life and the persisting climate crisis.

In South Cotabato, Climate Reality Leader Reginely Kem Yares also joined a clean-up drive last September with the Mindanao State University.

Reflecting on the current state of plastic pollution in the country, Climate Reality Leader Vincent Cotoron underscored during the hang-out that it's not yet too late to address plastic pollution, highlighting the need for more people to advocate for a circular economy and demand plastic producers to take responsibility for their waste.

Cotoron cited the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, which requires producers to be environmentally responsible throughout the life cycle of a product, especially its post-consumer or end-of-life stage. He shared that he was able to talk about the law during a speaking engagement as the climate change focal of his organization. He called on his fellow Climate Reality Leaders to campaign for the full implementation of the law.

In Misamis Oriental, Climate Reality Leader Camille Cutimar shared the sad reality she is witnessing in her everyday work in the agriculture and fishery sector: marine life entangled in plastic waste and microplastics infiltrating marine resources consumed by humans.

Cutimar identified several community-based solutions to marine plastic pollution. These include educating fisherfolk on how to be more responsible with their discarded nets and other fishing materials, including cellophane used to preserve their catch, and raising awareness among households about the dangers of plastic pollution and the importance of proper waste disposal.

Speaking on the need to refuse single-use plastics, Climate Reality Leader Mark Devon Maitim shared that he is pushing for the use of tumblers and reusable cups, instead of disposable plastics, in the events hosted by his organization. He also shared his efforts to engage restaurant owners and operators in avoiding single-use plastics.

Lastly, Climate Reality Leader Jefferson Cuadra shared his efforts to engage his students at the Caraga State University on climate and marine pollution action through the arts. Through paintings and other forms of art, his students can amplify the call for a cross-sectoral and whole-of-nation action toward addressing both the climate and plastic crises.

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Hisgutanang Klima sa Mindanao: Tackling plastic pollution

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Mindanao Coordinator Marisol Tuso wrote about the need to make food systems and the agriculture sector more sustainable.

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Hundreds of volunteers in Philippines help to clean up Manila coastline (RESEARCHED BY: BETTINA DELA CERNA)

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URL: https://youtu.be/0RpltwzkjQU?si=8Tqc9VdBRFYWRNhn

Title: Hundreds of Volunteers in the Philippines help to clean up Manila coastline

Author: Channel News Asia (CNA)

Date Published: June 8, 2023

Key Information: Hundreds of volunteers and government officials in the Philippines are working to clean up Manila Bay's coastline, which accounts for 6% of the world's ocean plastic garbage, owing mostly to lax waste disposal laws. Officials said around 200 sacks of garbage were filled in only two hours. This issue is not isolated to Manila Bay alone but extends to coastal areas across the Philippines, including regions like Mindanao. It underscores the necessity of nationwide strategies to address plastic pollution and protect the marine environment.

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Hundreds of volunteers in Philippines help to clean up Manila coastline

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World Wildlife Day Focuses on Life Below Water for the First Time (RESEARCHED BY: REESE CELIS)

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URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063721

Title: World Wildlife Day Focuses on Life Below Water for the First Time

Author: Catherine Teves

Date Published: March 5, 2019

Key Information: The Department of Biodiversity Management Bureau advocates sectors to help conserve and protect several life forms. DENR Asst. Secretary calls each one to raise awareness and take action.

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YES for Oceans 2022: How young Filipinos are advocating for marine conservation (RESEARCHED BY: HANNAH FERNANDEZ)

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14. NON - GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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14. NON - GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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URL: https://wwf.org.ph/resource-center/story-archives-2022/yes-for-oceans-2022-how-young-filipinos-are-advocating-for-marine-conservation/

Title: YES for OCEANS

Author:

Date Published:

Key Information: Young leaders in the country advocate changing marine life by engaging in missions that preserve the marine environment. The marine life of the Philippines is also the marine life of Mindanao. This is why young leaders from the country are cooperating as one to solve the growing issue of the country.

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Advocating for the Life Below Water with Lorenzo Sablay (RESEARCHED BY: REESE CELIS)

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URL:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1SsrLeYw9OuWZ4pNpmbfLV?si=1tfrEtQpRnCLUsK9QAoHjw

Title: Advocating for the Life Below Water with Lorenzo Sablay

Author: Para Kanino

Date Published: Feb 11, 2022

Key Information: Lorenzo talks about his advocacy of taking care of the ocean, his fights for sustainability, and how he started. He emphasizes that water is a necessity that affects everyone if it is not taken care of.

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"ACT" (A Short FIlm) | Life Below Water SDG#14 (RESEARCHED BY: HANNAH FERNANDEZ)

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URL: https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwicv7GB7riEAxX5ma8BHaElCXEQwqsBegQIDhAG&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9ZMNVTSBnQw&usg=AOvVaw264XqUhj5On5in5oEhHsgA&opi=89978449

Title: “ACT” (A Short Film)

Author: Mga Anak ni Lauro

Date Published: October 12, 2019

Key Information: It discusses what the marine environment is. It also talks about what are the possible threats to the marine life. How to preserve and take care of the life below water is also explained in the video. The speakers of the documentary are also advocating for the people to regulate cooperation in protecting the marine life in the Philippines. The problems mentioned in the documentary are not only present in the Philippines sea but also, in the seas of Mindanao.

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Ocean’s silent threat - Davao Gulf divers, DENR-Pamo retrieve 100 meters of abandoned fishing nets (RESEARCHED BY: REESE CELIS)

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URL: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/oceans-silent-threat

Title: Ocean’s silent threat

Author: David Ezra M. Francisquete

Date Published: December 8, 2023

Key Information: A vital part of Mindanao's marine life, Davao Gulf is home to thriving corals and hydra coral reefs spanning 308,000 hectares currently threatened by abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear. Davao Gulf Divers and DENR-Pamo retrieved 100 meters of net left by fisherfolks in Punta-North, adjacent to the DGD Marine Park on Kopiat Island. They also raise concerns about gaps in the Philippine Fisheries Code, which lacks specific provisions for abandoned fishing nets or gear. Additionally, the Bfar-Davao Region says fishermen should be educated more about this concern.

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World Oceans Day 2020 Webinar by Bulacan State University and Wetlands International Philippines (RESEARCHED BY: REESE CELIS)

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URL: https://youtu.be/MwIkJyzUPBk?si=8rtBoL7qv6Fvk4ck

Title: World Oceans Day 2020 Webinar by Bulacan State University and Wetlands International Philippines
Author: Wetlands International Philippines
Date Published: July 7. 2021
Key Information: The speaker talks about alienating several issues concerning the ocean. She emphasizes the importance of life below water, human habits affecting the ocean negatively, and taking action to solve these concerns.

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Storybook teaches children how plastic endangers marine creatures (RESEARCHED BY: HANNAH FERNANDEZ)

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URL:https://nolisoli.ph/70209/storybook-children-marine-adarna-csanjose-20191120/

Title: Bayan ng Basura

Author: Augie Rivera

Date Published: 2019

Key information: The harsh reality of irresponsible human waste management that resulted in marine life pollution made it gentler for younger audiences. A storybook for children that enlightens them about what is happening in the real world through stories that are suitable for them. The story is inspired by real-life cases of marine pollution as the Philippines as the setting and Pawikan as the main character. It tackles the sad reality of the natural water resources becoming polluted.

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By now, we all know (or at least, should know) how plastic-microplastics and huge chunks alike-have been floating around the marine ecosystem, suffocating unsuspecting sea creatures.

How many whales have washed ashore dead after choking on tons of plastic? Turtles strangled by six-pack holders? Even worse, we humans are already consuming plastic by eating seafood and sea salt.

[READ: Shopping bags, rice sacks found inside dead whale in Mindanao]

But do the kids know this?

Sure, Gen Z knows this. Perhaps better than most millennials or even boomers. After all, they are the ones going out into the streets to protest for immediate response to climate change.

[READ: Climate change inaction violates children's rights, says Greta Thunberg and other young activists]

How early do we need to tell our kids about a future they may not have? A sea they may not see or creatures they may only know through books and the internet?

Adarna House, which has been known as a pioneering publishing house for a generation of Filipino kids, has long been integrating these radical issues into the storybooks they produce. Remember when they put out a children's book about the perils of an authoritarian regime called "Ito and Diktadura" or that explainer about the different class strata called "Uring Lipunan"?

[READ: Even this Spanish children's book can't deny the Marcos dictatorship]

Their latest one in collaboration with Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines called "Bayan ng Basura" by award-winning children's book author Augie Rivera with art by illustrator and designer Jill Arteche touches on the environmental effects of the growing plastic problem. Told through the perspective of a sea turtle named Pawikan, the book starts with a peaceful, fiesta-like, and lively marine ecosystem, a town where the protagonist lives.

But after a storm, Pawikan finds himself stuck in another town that's filled with plastic waste. Think "Finding Nemo" but with a scrutinizing view of the effects of the massive irresponsible waste management of humans on land.

We spoke to its author and illustrator about how the project began and the message they want young readers to get from this book.

Hi Augie and Jill! Congrats on the new book. First off, we want to know where you got the idea for the plot and the visual look of "Bayan ng Basura."

Augie Rivera: In developing my story for "Bayan ng Basura" (Basuratown), I drew inspiration from real-life cases of animals that fell victim to environmental abuse and neglect. We have done several 'animals-in-the-news' episodes in our long-running infotainment show, 'Ang Pinaka,' and it was there that I came across stories like that of an olive ridley sea turtle caught off the coast of Costa Rica with a plastic straw lodged in its nostril, and even the local news of a dead Cuvier's beaked whale washed ashore in Compostella Valley that had 40 kilos of plastic waste in its stomach. The story's almost-post-apocalyptic world under the sea is based on a shocking footage of a diver swimming in a Bali ocean teeming with all sorts of plastic garbage.

Jill Arteche: We sketched the character and background studies making sure that we were portraying a somehow realistic idea of a 'Bayan ng Basura' underwater. Overall, the setting became inspired by the movie, "Mad Max Fury Road," which was suggested by Sir Augie. With this, we were able to illustrate a gritty and grimy wasteland that makes you feel nothing but hopelessness and desolation. We also illustrated different kinds of trash but emphasized plastic wastes to make a point of it being the major source of marine pollution.

I also did research and gather a lot of references to sea creatures and the underwater environment. The references were photos from the internet and real life. Some were from my imagination, too! I was also inspired by movies such as "Finding Nemo" and "The Little Mermaid" for the different settings.

Hopefully, the story will make the readers empathize with these poor creatures, root for them, and care enough to dream and participate in making a better world for them to live in.

Knowing how vast the topic of marine pollution is, what were some of your considerations to ensure that a younger reader can fully grasp this concept?

AR: Yes, it's a vast topic so I just focused on the story of the lost Pawikan and his struggles to get out of Basuratown, and find his way back home. I tried to make use of familiar marine creatures as characters and make their experiences relatable to the young audience, but at the same time, I also took the opportunity to introduce other sea creatures to arouse curiosity. Hopefully, the story will make the readers empathize with these poor creatures, root for them, and care enough to dream and participate in making a better world for them to live in.

JA: We used a lot of contrasting elements to make it easier for children to understand the direct effects of pollution on our marine life. As for the spreads set in the 'Bayan ng Basura,' we made it dark, bleak and unpleasant looking to set such a contrasting difference from its happy and vibrant counterpart.

The key to this was the use of a dull and limiting color palette and the presence of grit, grime, and trash. Here, we also gave the characters more menacing and frightening appearances to emphasize their feeling of hopelessness and desolation. We dressed them up in trash to also show how this has become a part of their lives already. Through personifying them, we thought that it would allow children to identify with these characters even more.

What message do you want a kid who will pick up this book to get regarding the current condition of our seas and what they can do about it?

AR: The staggering amount of plastic waste choking the world's oceans is a huge global problem. (In fact, the Philippines is now the third-largest contributor of marine plastic waste). The story hopes to inspire young readers to take action, and do their share in trying to solve the problem. Their small actions like disposing of waste properly, saying 'no' to plastic straws, or refusing the single-use plastics can rile up their own communities to be more pro-active in taking care of our oceans and the environment. 'Think global, act local', .

JA: Personally, I believe that the release of the book is very timely because of the environmental disasters that have been happening recently. With this, I hope that we realize that this story is one that reminds us that we share a planet with other living creatures that have an equal share on this earth as humans do. This is a truth that a lot of us tend to forget when we make our choices. As the story shows, our obsession to create a 'perfect world' comes at the expense of our already declining ecosystems, making them more vulnerable than ever. It is important to stress the fact that there will be no future for humanity without them. So to all the readers, I hope that this story empowers you to act immediately before it's too late.

Header photo courtesy of Jill Arteche

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LOOK: Storybook teaches children how plastic endangers marine creatures

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By now, we all know (or at least, should know) how plastic-microplastics and huge chunks alike-have been floating around the marine ecosystem, suffocating unsuspecting sea creatures. How many whales have washed ashore dead after choking on tons of plastic? Turtles strangled by six-pack holders? Even worse, we humans are already consuming plastic by eating seafood...

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Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines (RESEARCHED BY: FRANCINE NERI)

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URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/10/1532

Title: Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines

Author: Acot, F. T., Sajorne, R. E., Omar, N. K., Suson, P. D., Rallos, L. E. E., & Bacosa, H. P.

Date Published: October 19, 2022

Key Information: This study investigated microplastic pollution in Sarangani Bay, Philippines, finding significantly higher densities of plastic litter in urban areas compared to rural areas.

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1. Introduction

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a rapidly emerging global environmental concern, with high concentrations (up to 580,000 pieces per km ²) and a global distribution, driven by exponentially increasing production [ 1]. The exponential increase in the use of plastics in modern society and the inadequate management of the resulting waste have led to plastic accumulation in the marine environment [ 2]. This is a major environmental issue that affects coasts and coastlines all around the world [ 3].

According to a model developed by Meijer et al. [ 8], the Philippines is the largest emitter of plastics from rivers to the marine environment. The country also ranks third in total plastic waste input from land into the ocean, just below China and Indonesia, by contributing 0.28-0.75 million metric tons of plastic litter every year [ 9]. These findings are mainly based on simulation and numerical modeling, empirical observations, and a limited amount of field data. Validating the results of these findings through a more representative field sampling is crucial to science-based decision-making. Several studies on plastic pollution monitoring were conducted on the beaches of the Philippines, and the majority of the beaches were categorized as dirty to extremely dirty based on the clean-coast index (CCI) [ 10, 11, 12]. These beach areas were mostly categorized as urban areas where the rate of infrastructure development is higher than in rural areas. Aside from this, activities such as fishing and swimming are also frequently conducted by the local community and beachgoers, which helps development and economic growth, particularly in local coastal communities [ 13]. However, these activities may contribute to plastic pollution as indiscriminate disposal of solid waste is highly rampant in coastal settlements [ 12, 14, 15, 16]. This emerging threat requires the development and enforcement of plastic regulation policies. In a study conducted by Galarpe et al. [ 17], it was determined whether studies on macro- and microplastics should be the basis of the institutionalization of existing policies on waste management. Unfortunately, they were unable to arrive at sound conclusions due to a limited number of studies on macro- and mesoplastics in the Philippines, and therefore a limited amount of field data, considering that the country is seen as a plastic pollution hotspot around the world.

The intensity of human pressure on marine systems has led to a push for stronger marine conservation efforts. The Philippines has been the site of some of the earliest marine reserves and marine-protected areas [ 18]. Marine reserves, as defined by [ 19], are areas of marine environment protected from various forms of human exploitation. Within the last decade, South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City (SOCSARGEN) in the southern Philippines has emerged as one of the most economically dynamic regions in the Philippines [ 20]. A significant factor propelling growth in the area is the presence of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), a marine-protected area that provides various goods and services that cater to the SOCSARGEN economy. The bay encloses an area of 449.22 km ² and is bounded by the Sarangani Province and chartered city of General Santos. Besides providing a sanctuary for marine life, the bay also offers a wide range of choices for recreational activities due to the presence of white-sanded beaches, beautiful coral reefs, and scuba diving sites [ 21]. Despite its status as a marine-protected area, the bay has faced several environmental pressures, including massive population growth, uncontrolled human settlement in coastal areas, urbanization, and various anthropogenic pressures, including pollution [ 22]. However, the plastic pollution in the area has not been documented. Thus, with the growing concern of plastic pollution in the Philippines, this study was conducted to (1) determine the density of macroplastic litter on the rural and urban beaches, (2) identify the types of macroplastic litter, (3) quantify the accumulation rate of macroplastic litter for eight non-consecutive days, and (4) determine the clean-coast index of rural and urban beaches of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first monitoring of marine plastic litter pollution in the protected seascape of the Philippines.

2. Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape ( Figure 1). Sarangani Bay is located on the southern tip of Mindanao Island in the Philippines. It opens up to the Celebes Sea in the Pacific Ocean. The bay was declared a protected seascape in 1996 (Proclamation no. 756 signed by President Fidel V. Ramos), covering an area of 215,950 hectares. Plastic litter was sampled from 14 beaches in rural (n = 7) and urban (n = 7) areas in Sarangani Bay, and the sampling sites were classified as urban (U) or rural (R) ( Table 1).

Sampling was performed by following the methods of Sajorne et al. [ 12] with minor modifications. At each sampling site, a 100-m transecting line was established parallel to the shoreline. Three quadrats measuring 4 m × 4 m were laid along the transecting line. Plastic litter found within the quadrat was collected, counted, and classified. The collected plastics were classified based on their uses, such as food packaging, polyethylene bags (locally known as sando bags), Styrofoam, mats, plastic bottle, plastic fragments, plastic caps, toiletries, Styrofoam cups, clothing, and other items ( Figure S1) [ 12, 23]. Meanwhile, to monitor the accumulation rate of macroplastics, non-consecutive sampling was conducted for eight days in beach areas [ 16]. The transecting line and quadrats were placed in the same area in each sampling site throughout the monitoring. Sampling collection was conducted from 11 August 2021 until 4 September 2021. The collection of macroplastics was conducted on Wednesdays to represent the weekdays and Saturdays to represent the weekends

The density of plastic litter was determined by dividing the total number of items per unit area sampled [ 24, 25] and reported as items/m ² ± SD. The cleanliness of the coastal beaches was assessed using the clean-coast index (CCI) [ 26], where CCI is equal to the density of litter items/m ² multiplied by 20, a constant to make the numerical value of CCI more intuitive. According to the CCI scale, values from 0 to 2 are very clean, 2 to 5 are clean, 5 to 10 are moderately clean, 10 to 20 are dirty, and greater than 20 are extremely dirty. Meanwhile, the daily accumulation rate, mean count, and cumulative density were computed using the formula of Ammendolia et al. [ 27]. The accumulation rate was reported as items d −1 m −2 [ 28].

An independent two-sample t-test was conducted to determine significant differences between urban and rural beaches in Sarangani Bay in terms of macroplastic abundance as the data are parametric. Statistical analysis was performed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26, a free software, developed by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) headquartered in Armonk, New York, and values of p < 0.05 were considered significantly different.

3. Results

Regarding the sampling sites, all beaches were found to contain macroplastic litter. A total of 2580 items of plastic litter were collected over a cumulative area of 672 m ² in urban and rural areas of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, with a density of 3.83 items m −2. The highest density was recorded in urban areas U3 (1.06 items m −2), U4 (0.88 items m −2), and U5 (0.82 items m −2) ( Table 1). Overall, the plastic litter density on urban beaches (0.66 items m −2) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the plastic density on rural beaches (0.29 items m −2) ( Figure 2).

In terms of macroplastic types, there is a difference in the percentage composition in rural and urban areas of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape ( Figure 3). In urban areas, food packaging (27%, n = 474 items), polyethylene bags or sando bags (15%, n = 271 items), and mats (13%, n = 237 items) were the most predominant types of macroplastic. Meanwhile, sando bags (23%, n = 180 items), food packaging (19%, n = 154 items), and Styrofoam (14%, n = 108 items) were predominant in the rural areas. Overall, the types of plastics sampled were predominantly food packaging (24%, n = 628), sando bags (18%, n = 451), and other items (19%, n = 496). The "other items" were composed of combined plastic classifications that made up less than two (2%) percent of the total plastic types.

Meanwhile, Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape was monitored for eight non-consecutive days, and it revealed that the daily density of macroplastic ranged from 0 to 2.52 items m −2, with a mean density of 0.48 items m −2 (SD = 2.26) ( Table 2). The accumulation rates of macroplastic litter ranged from 0.07 items d −1 m −2 to 0.40 items m −2, with an average rate of 0.18 items d −1 m −2. On average, the accumulation rate in urban areas (0.25 items d −1 m −2) was significantly higher than those in rural areas (0.11 items d −1 m −2) (p = 0.007). Meanwhile, it was shown that day 2 of the collection was found to have the highest density (1.35 items d −1) (n = 456), while the lowest density (0.75 items d −1) (n = 255) was recorded on day 8 ( Figure 4). Over the sampling period, a significant decrease in the density of plastic litter on both urban and rural beaches was not observed, which was characterized by a recurring amount or lingering presence of these pollutants in the area ( Figure 4).

Based on the CCI of the beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, 36% (5 out of 14) were considered dirty to extremely dirty ( Table 3). Out of the seven urban beaches, only one (site U3) (21.35) was categorized as extremely dirty, with a high CCI. Four of the sampling sites (U1, U2, U4, and U5) (11.25 to 17.65) were categorized as dirty. However, there were still some beaches (U6 and U7) categorized as clean ( Table 3). Meanwhile, on rural beaches, all of the sampling sites were considered as clean to moderately clean. Notably, dirty to extremely dirty sites were located in urban areas, while clean to moderately beaches were located in rural areas. Overall, on average, Sarangani Bay (9.59) is categorized as moderately clean.

4. Discussion

With these results, we confirmed the significant difference between the amount of macroplastic litter in rural and urban beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape. Urban beaches were noted to have two times higher macroplastic litter density compared to rural beaches. We observed that within the urban beaches, fishing activity was frequently conducted by the local community, while recreational activities were very seldom. However, no fishing paraphernalia was collected throughout the study period. Additionally, there are several residential areas within the vicinity of the urban beaches which can be one of the main sources of plastic litter. It is believed that the number of people in an area has a significant relationship to the quantity of plastic waste disposal [ 12, 13]. These factors might be the reason why we recorded the highest density and accumulation rate of macroplastic litter at urban beach sites U3 and U4. This result also supports the findings of Sajorne et al. [ 12, 24], where the majority of the plastic litter was collected from residential and fishing areas. Meanwhile, several studies on plastic monitoring on the Philippine coasts also found plastic food wrappers/containers, cups, and sachet wrappers [ 10, 11, 29] as the dominant macroplastic waste. Basic necessities and commonly used plastic types are believed to be the underlying reasons for such findings. For instance, sando bags were listed as the dominant type of macroplastics collected in rural areas, while they were placed second in urban areas. This may be due to the need for sando bags for carrying food and other purchased items in rural areas, which may not be the same in urban areas where food and other items are in closer proximity to buyers. Living conditions and activities in urban areas seem to allow for easy purchases anytime and anywhere. In rural areas, however, stores are located far apart, which probably drives residents to purchase items in bulk, resulting in the use of more sando bags. During sampling, it was also observed that mats and clothing were littering the beaches of urban areas but were hardly seen in rural areas. In urban areas, residents can conveniently replace such items because of greater access to them, whereas rural residents are known to recycle both mats and clothing. Conversely, on rural beaches, activities related to tourism, such as swimming, were more frequently conducted by beachgoers than fishing activities. The high number of plastic cups in rural areas may be attributed to tourism as beachgoers or tourists usually bring disposables for special occasions or recreational activities [ 30]. This shows that the overall plastic usage in urban and rural areas varies. It can be said that the plastic composition is due to the necessities and activities of a particular place. The findings of this study, however, do not deviate from the findings of other studies that found plastic food wrappers and containers/sando bags to be the dominant plastic waste on or near the beaches of the Philippines [ 31].

The temporal pattern observed in this study reveals that plastic spells a big problem for the future as it is non-biodegradable. In a study conducted by Browne et al. [ 32], the influence of physical factors, such as wind, wave action, and the density of plastic litter, on the spatial pattern of the accumulation of plastic litter was highlighted. During the collection, it was observed that the difference in waste generation was due to geographical location, and the number of residents [ 33]. Rural areas were a bit more mountainous with rocky beaches, and the number of households was not yet populous, unlike urban areas where beaches were plainly sandy and the coastline was occupied with houses. Additionally, the rural areas were close to the open sea, while the urban areas were by the bay. These data suggest that the accumulation rate of plastic in a given area does not depend only on human population size, but also on the geographical formation and activity of the site. Other than that, we also consider the influence of winds and waves [ 34, 35] and meteorological conditions [ 36] on the transport and accumulation of macroplastic litter in these areas. In comparison to other areas in the Philippines, the beaches of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape are cleaner than the beaches of Puerto Princesa, Palawan (29) [ 12], and Macajalar Bay, Misamis Oriental (84.99) [ 11]. In this study, the urban sites of Sarangani Bay were found to be moderately clean, dirty, and extremely dirty. Our CCI findings agree with the findings of Esquinas et al. [ 11] and Kalnasa et al. [ 29], who found the urban sites of Baloy, Macabalan, Bonbon, and Balua as clean and extremely dirty. As aptly stated, the highly urbanized nature of the adjacent environment greatly influenced the litter deposition in the surface sand of Macajalar Bay [ 11].

This study also reveals that plastic litter is now recognized as an emerging threat to Sarangani Bay. Marine macroplastic litter not only negatively affects ecology and biodiversity [ 37] but also has a direct impact on the economic value [ 7] of the coastal community as Sarangani Bay is a protected seascape and uplifts the economy of the SOCCSARGEN region through tourism. However, this study also revealed that tourism-related items were the dominant macroplastic litter found on the rural and urban beaches of Sarangani Bay. With the presence of plastic litter on coastal beaches, the beaches lose their aesthetic value [ 38], thus making them unattractive and unsuitable for recreational activities [ 39, 40]. The advancement toward meeting the main tenets of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has been hampered by insufficient initiatives for solid waste management policies at regional and national levels.

Meanwhile, SDG 6-clean water and sanitation-and SDG 14-life below the water-are both directly impacted by the pollution brought on by incorrect solid waste disposal in coastal regions. Recent reports in Philippine marine waters have also revealed the first case of plastic ingestion in a rare Deraniyagala's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hotaula) [ 41] and green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) [ 42]. As a result, there may be a loss of biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as well as a reduction in the livelihoods of the local coastal community [ 43]. Furthermore, if this continues, through the influence of physical and chemical factors [ 44], secondary MP and nanoplastics will eventually form and put the health of the local coastal community at risk [ 7]. Due to its high dependence on marine foods, SDG 3-good health and welfare of the local community-and SDG 12-responsible consumption and production-become vulnerable as a result of these records of plastic ingestion in biota. Pieces of evidence on microplastic ingestion in fish and other marine animals [ 45] have also been reported in the Philippines. Overall, the occurrence of marine macroplastic pollution in the urban and rural beaches of Sarangani Bay can be partially ascribed to inadequate regional and national initiatives for solid waste management in Mindanao.

5. Conclusions

This study is the first to provide an account of the current status of plastic litter on urban and rural beaches in Mindanao, Philippines. We observed that plastic litter is more prevalent in urban areas than in rural areas in terms of density. The collection patterns of plastic litter suggest that the number of plastics in a given area may either increase or decrease but is never zero, which means that plastic waste is always being deposited in coastal areas, possibly aided by wind and wave actions. Similar to other studies, the dominant types of plastic litter are food packaging and sando bags. The values of the clean-coast index in this study revealed that beaches in urban areas are moderately clean, dirty, and extremely dirty, while rural areas are clean and moderately clean. Since the urban and rural beaches of Sarangani Bay were classified over a range of moderately clean to extremely dirty, this implies that both beach areas require a stricter plastic waste policy implementation-one for maintaining the clean status and the other for rehabilitating dirty beaches. Furthermore, data on the identification of dominant macroplastic items can serve as a guide for legislators in creating policies to strengthen the promotion of environmentally friendly products to curb or limit the rapid production of these dominant items.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/jmse10101532/s1, Figure S1: Types of macroplastic litter based on their uses: (A) food packaging; (B) fragment; (C) polyethylene bag or sando bag; (D) Styrofoam; (E) plastic bottle; (F) bottle cap; (G) mat; (H) toiletry; (I) disposable cup.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, F.T.A.J. and H.P.B.; investigation, F.T.A.J.; formal analysis, F.T.A.J., R.E.S., N.-A.K.O., P.D.S., L.E.E.R. and H.P.B.; writing original draft preparation, F.T.A.J., R.E.S. and N.-A.K.O.; writing-review and editing, P.D.S., L.E.E.R. and H.P.B.; supervision, P.D.S., L.E.E.R. and H.P.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed Consent Statement

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology through the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP). The first author would like to thank the DOST-ASTHRDP for the scholarship to pursue graduate studies at MSU-IIT and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12, especially the Protected Area Management Board of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape for allowing the researchers to conduct this study in Sarangani Bay.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 2. Density of macroplastics sampled from seven rural beaches and seven urban beaches of Sarangani Bay, Philippines. Error bars represent the standard deviation of 14 sampling times. Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Table 2. Summary of macroplastic surveys including the item counts, densities (items m −2), and accumulation rates (items d −1 m −2) in sampling sites of Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape. The standard deviation (SD), daily minimum (min.), and maximum (max.) counts and densities are also presented.

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Acot, F.T., Jr.; Sajorne, R.E.; Omar, N.-A.K.; Suson, P.D.; Rallos, L.E.E.; Bacosa, H.P. Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10, 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10101532

Acot FT Jr., Sajorne RE, Omar N-AK, Suson PD, Rallos LEE, Bacosa HP. Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2022; 10(10):1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10101532

Chicago/Turabian Style

Acot, Frank T., Jr., Recca E. Sajorne, Nur-Ayn K. Omar, Peter D. Suson, Lynn Esther E. Rallos, and Hernando P. Bacosa. 2022. "Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10, no. 10: 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10101532

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Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines

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Plastic pollution in the ocean is an emerging environmental concern in the Philippines. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of macroplastics, composition of plastic litter, and the clean-coast index (CCI) of urban and rural beaches in Sarangani Bay. Plastic litter was collected by delineating a 100-m transecting line with three 4 m × 4 m quadrats.

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