El Nido Bans All Kinds of Plastic in Island and Boat Tours
Thinking of going to El Nido for your next trip? If so, you need to know that El Nido, Palawan is banning all types of plastic in all of their boat and island tours, so make sure to bring your alternatives.
IMAGE/Natural Arts Travel and Tours’ Facebook
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in partnership with El Nido’s boat captains and crews launched their newest project of banning all kinds of plastic in boat and island tours. In addition, captains and tourists are encouraged to pick up trash around the area for a cleaner and greener El Nido.
Starting September 1, 2018, everyone in the island is expected to participate in the program as plastic bottles and other forms of plastics will be confiscated before proceeding with a tour. Water in plastic bottles purchased on the island will be accepted as long as you transfer it to your own water container.
According to Commander Leonides Echague, director of the 405th Auxiliary Squadron of PCG Auxiliary and President of El Nido Chamber of Commerce and Industry, banning plastic packaging in boat and island tours is a program towards creating change.
Echague shares that the amount of plastic waste on the island was already reduced less than a week after the ban was implemented. Imagine the impact this could have if it was done in other places in the Philippines.
Commander Echague believes that all groups, small or big, either government or ordinary people, should take part in keeping the environment clean because according to him, the simple act of limiting the use of plastics will create a big change in the country’s environment.
This program also aims to prevent the domino effect of land and water pollution in the country; thus, they will continue this program as a long-term project. So if you’re planning to go to El Nido or any other place not just in the Philippines, make sure to do your part and help reduce waste in the country.
Remember, a small and simple act can create an endless ripple.
Written by Denisse Tenorio
