El Nido Resorts schedules ocean cleanup on Sept. 15

A WIDE range of marine wildlife in Bacuit Bay in Northern Palawan, the last ecological frontier of the Philippines, has been harmed by tons of wantonly disposed garbage that end up in the oceans every year, according to Mariglo Laririt, director for sustainability at El Nido Resorts. Three of the four El Nido Resorts, which has won global awards for creating awareness for the area’s rich biodiversity, are located in the bay.

Having been declared a protected area since 1998, the bay’s 855 species of fish, over 400 corals and five of seven species of marine turtles have to some extent been shielded from over fishing and other aggressively harmful practices. Bacuit Bay’s marine wildlife, nevertheless, “remains at high risk because of garbage — particularly plastics — that has mindlessly been strewn into the ocean,” according to Mr. Laririt.

The bay had its fair share of the 18.4 million pounds of waste globally collected last year alone through the International Coastal Cleanup drive organized by global marine wildlife advocate Ocean Conservancy. El Nido Resorts annually observes International Coastal Cleanup day in September by inviting local communities and its own employees, most of whom are from Palawan, to pick up trash along its beaches. Joey Bernardino, group director of sales and marketing, said the resorts’ goal is “to change behaviors that cause pollution and environmental degradation.”

This year it is also boosting participation by inviting eco-warriors all over the country to participate in a cleanup on Sept. 15 and enjoy three- night’s stay at the island resorts of Miniloc or Lagen on twin sharing basis for the price of two nights.