T
he Philippines is a country of natural beauty—
an archipelago of wondrous islands and idyllic
beaches, majestic landforms and notable
biodiversity. Add to these a rich history and
an array of diverse cultures to make for a great
tourist destination. Several of its scenic spots
and cultural sites have, in fact, received recognition from
international organisations, like the recent inclusion of the
Underground River in Puerto Princesa, Palawan into the
New7Wonders of Nature and certification as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, these praises cannot
erase the fact that the very nature we celebrate greatly
agonises from our own abuse as well.
Human neglect towards nature is evident: wild
animals facing extinction because of poaching,
woodlands disappearing because of deforestation, fields
becoming barren because of climate change. While most
environmentally-abusive practices have already been
criminalised—illegal logging and mining, dynamite
fishing, and irresponsible destruction of coral reefs—
their practice still abound, enough to leave our lands and
seas scarred.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary
Bernadette “Berna” Romulo-Puyat says that the
Philippines is a country that is “easy to sell,” including
its people’s reputed hospitality and facility with the
universal language.But amid such environmental concerns, how can the
DOT—and the government in general—promote the
country in the global market? Local tourism is entirely
dependent on the environment; photographs of beautiful
sights lose their attraction when juxtaposed with those
of piles of garbage accummulated from decades past.
A 2015 report by the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey
Centre for Business and Environment ranked us as the
third largest producer of plastic waste, next to China and
Indonesia. Four years after this shocking revelation, it
seems as if no significant change ever occurred.
Earlier in 2019, the Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives released a new study stating that Filipinos use
an astounding number of single-use plastics on a daily basis:
163 million sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45
million thin film bags per day, to be exact. GAIA explained
that a year’s worth of used sachet packets alone can easily
cover Metro Manila’s land area with at least one foot of
plastic. Add to that the billions of plastic bags that go to
waste in a single year, and you will never again question why
raging floods often return the waste we dispose.
What is becoming evident today is the rise of
environmentalist efforts in the country. Lawmakers,
advocates, and concerned organisations are answering
the call for collective action through the promotion of
eco-friendly practices and, consequently, prevention of
environmentally harmful habits. Images Couresty of JILsoNtIu/greeNPeaCeaNd seC BerNaromuLo-Puyat/dePartmeNt oftourIsm150 philippine tatler. august 2019