Did you know that there are over thousand pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways?
Recently, I want to a beach in Batangas and I was turned off because of the trash. I saw shampoo pouch, empty soda can, Paper Culture birthday invitations, plastics, candy wrappers and more. Some people doesn’t realize that these trashes can hurt both other people and animals when they ends up in the ocean. Getting rid of trash helps to keep animals and people safe, and helps to keep our ocean waters clean. Good thing, we have a program called Coastal Cleanup where volunteers gather to remove trash and debris that litters our beaches and enter our oceans.
Hamilo Coast, SM Land’s premier residential leisure destination development, recently organized its 4th annual coastal clean-up in Nasugbu, Batangas. Gathering volunteers from the private sector, government and the local community, the project is part of Hamilo Coast’s continuing partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.
“The coastal clean-up proves our commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development,” remarks Rona Torres-Tan, Senior Vice-President, Project Head, Costa Del Hamilo Inc. “Preserving the coast’s natural beauty is foremost among our priorities. Since we started the coastal regeneration program in 2008, we have seen considerable improvement in Hamilo’s marine life.
We now have soft corals and we have seen an increase in the number and variety of fish including jacks, snappers and groupers. We are especially happy to see that puffer fish have once again made their homes in our waters and sea turtles have also come to lay their eggs along our coastline, which is a good indication of the health and cleanliness of Hamilo’s marine environment.”
Encompassing 37.5 hectares of land, thirteen coves, and kilometers of the finest coastlines in Nasugbu, Hamilo Coast is envisioned to provide a network of leisure communities with a variety of lifestyle experiences. The development is part of the Verde Island Passage of the Coral Triangle, known as “the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world”. To ensure Hamilo Coast’s genuine sustainability, it has partnered with WWF Philippines to develop projects in the areas of coastal resource management, solid waste management, and renewable energy.
“The preservation of Hamilo Coast is an integral part of our company’s investment in the future so Filipinos can continue to enjoy the beauty of Hamilo for generations to come,” concludes Tan.