PAG-ASA ISLAND – A growing amount of trash with Chinese markings has washed up on the coastline of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, sparking concerns over the impact on marine life, according to an expert.
On Thursday, local and international news teams observed numerous bottles and cartons, presumably beverage containers, scattered along the island’s beach. Meanwhile, at least 12 maritime militia vessels and a China Coast Guard ship were stationed just 4 nautical miles from the island.
Marilou Vales, Pag-asa Island’s coordinator, reported that residents conduct bi-monthly coastal cleanups due to the persistent problem. In the most recent cleanup this September, 36 sacks of garbage were collected in just two hours, much of it believed to have originated from Chinese vessels.
“Most of it really comes from China. Some items we can’t identify since we can’t read them,” Vales said.
She added, “It’s not surprising considering we see their vessels around. Perhaps they are dumping their waste, and it ends up on our coast here on the island.”
This situation has compromised the island’s environmental preservation efforts, despite ongoing efforts to maintain cleanliness and promote proper waste management.
Marine scientist Prof. Jonathan Anticamara, from the University of the Philippines Diliman, noted that the trash endangers the coral life surrounding the island. He explained that only 5 to 10 percent of Pag-asa Island’s corals remain alive, primarily due to coral bleaching, climate change, and human activities, threatening food security in the area.
“The waste management that should prevent garbage from entering the sea is not being followed. Given the amount of debris with Chinese characters, it seems likely the trash is being dumped by vessels,”
He warned that the accumulation of trash could further harm the marine ecosystem, stressing that corals and other underwater lifeforms are already under immense stress.
Anticamara called on the government to monitor the possible waste discharge from Chinese vessels, emphasizing the need for better regulation in the area to protect sensitive marine life, including corals and fish, from the damaging effects of sewage and other waste materials.
Meanwhile, a similar environmental threat has been observed at Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half-Moon Shoal), where crushed corals were found, resembling the damage seen on Pag-asa Island’s three sandy cays.
Footage from the fisheries bureau’s patrol showed the area covered in crushed white corals, some reaching up to 5 meters in height. However, further studies and monitoring are necessary to understand the extent of the damage and whether it is a natural occurrence or man-made.
Anticamara also urged the government to invest in satellite monitoring to track the activities of Chinese vessels within the West Philippine Sea, given the ongoing environmental degradation in the region.