A cleaner coast, a better future

When summer rolls in, many take the opportunity to enjoy vacation time along the beautiful coastlines of the Philippines. So many photos showing sun, sand, and smiles are excitedly shared with family and friends. Living near the coastline also benefits many communities in terms of livelihood and well-being.

It's possible for our children and future generations to have the same love for these experiences if we continue to maintain the health, cleanliness, and safety of our coastal environments. Coastal clean-ups have become important to address the very visible and actionable problem of trash permeating the waters and coastal areas. If done on a regular basis, the concerted effort of individuals can make a difference in helping nature recover.

Keeping marine life safe
Many are familiar with the haunting images and reports of turtles’ necks getting caught in plastic rings or a whale dying because of the amount of plastic in their stomach. Coastal clean-ups help in lessening the amount of trash that reaches their habitat to improve the survival rate of marine life.

As more plastic trash invades the waters, researchers are also finding how many fish and shellfish are consuming them. In turn, humans who consume these sea creatures may also be ingesting the plastic particles that result from the trash.

Keeping each other safe
Physical safety is also enhanced with clean and well-maintained coastlines. Sharp metal cans, broken glass, nets, and the like can be sources of danger and injury to people who may not notice these foreign objects in the water, sand, or along a rocky coast.

Clean coasts and beaches also bring much enjoyment, helping in creating a relaxing atmosphere for picnics, family bonding, play, or even just lounging around to rest. For many who use it as a setting to destress, it does a lot in improving their mental state. Coastal clean-ups can help create better and safer areas where all of these are possible.

Make others aware of how to help
Organizing and participating in coastal clean-ups not only keep these areas clean, they also become opportunities to let the community become aware of how they can help care for the planet.

One of the recent coastal clean-ups came in celebration of World Oceans Day in June through SM Prime Holdings Inc. In cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, their SM Cares Coastal Clean-Up activities were held in select locations nationwide. With over 29,000 kilos of trash collected through the efforts of volunteer employees, government units, students, and environmental organizations, there is hope that the beauty of the Philippines can still be enjoyed by many.

It is not only clean-ups like these that impact the environment, it is also the willingness of individuals and organizations to show that they care enough to help repair the planet for each other and for future generations to enjoy. Hopefully, the beautiful photos we take of the clean and picturesque coastlines of the Philippines won’t merely be records of good memories but a view of how amazing they will still be in the future.

To learn more about SM Cares Programs for the Environment, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/

Find out more about SM Prime’s Sustainability and Resilience here.