1 month ago
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ORION, Bataan — An advocacy group composed of youth in this town is batting for the total elimination of single-use plastic, which it said "pollutes rivers, destroys biodiversity and leaves communities with the problem."
The Young Bataeños for Environmental Advocacy Network (YoungBEAN), through its secretary general Enrique Beren, raised the issue during the group's cleanup of mangroves in Barangay Camachile in Orion.
"Plastic pollution destroys mangroves and threatens the sustainability of our marine biodiversity," declared Beren.
"He said 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," added Beren.
The cleanup drive in one of the thriving mangrove areas in Bataan served as the culmination of activities for the January End Plastics Pollution Month initiated by YoungBEAN to raise awareness among the youth and the communities of the worsening plastic pollution.
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"We at YoungBEAN believe that plastic products, especially single-use plastics, are not recyclable nor reusable. Worst, it ends up in the rivers and oceans and clogs our waterways, causing floods and killing mangroves and other marine resources," explained Beren.
He enumerated the many benefits derived from mangroves that support the production of food and serve as a natural defense during storm surges and flooding of seaside communities.
The cleanup drive in the mangrove area in Orion was supported by Ecowaste Coalition and joined by more than 60 young people from the 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.
