DENR to closely monitor Cove Manila's NYE balloon drop, if it pushes through

“Drop the balloon drop.”

Over 60,000 have signed a petition to stop a club’s balloon drop event this New Year’s Eve.

In a bid to make a world record, Cove Manila in Parañaque City will drop 130,000 balloons to ring in 2019.

According to the online petition, the said event is “unsustainable, wasteful and ecologically apathetic.”

Even if there is proper waste disposal, the event goes against the basic principles of environmental sustainability.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also wants to stop Cove Manila’s balloon drop, and even conducted an ocular inspection in the club.

“In-assure tayo ng lawyer nila na biodegradable yung kanilang mga balloon and kumuha tayo ng sample para magconduct agad ng check ngayon. At the same time, they are saying that there’s an agreement between them and ecowaste recyclers saying na it will end up in a recycling plant to become ecobrick and decorations,” said DENR Usec. Benny Antiporda.

“Wala tayong nakikitang legal ground pa as of the moment to stop them from doing the said balloon drop,” Antiporda added.

Still, the DENR will closely monitor the event.

The Ecowaste Coalition also opposes the balloon drop, saying it’s 130,000 additional garbage.

“May mga ilang bagay para sumaya. Gusto nila magkaroon ng Guinness record bakit hindi na lang 130,000 solutions on how to reduce single use plastic ang gawin nila mula sa iba't ibang sector,” said its campaigner Aileen Lucero.

In an Instagram post, Cove Manila said that the balloon drop is not a “whimsical effort to just play with thousands of balloons” but a serious attempt at a world record for the Philippines.

Cove Manila Director Heathcliff Motorga said they want to give their customers a new and unique experience this New Year’s Eve, instead of the usual fireworks display that ultimately covers the city in smoke.

“We really care about the environment. With this one, we promise to everybody that every single balloon will be brought in our venue. We’ll be careful to clean it and then give it to the organization to create bricks that can be used for construction,” said Motorga.

He added that Cove Manila partnered with the organization Clean Our Ocean to recycle the balloons.

“We assure you that we are all one for enjoying a fun, safe, and environmentally sound celebration of the upcoming New Year’s Eve,” ended Cove Manila’s statement. — LA, GMA News