The local government here is intensifying coastal cleanups as operations consistently collect large volumes of trash from shoreline areas.

The city’s Bantay Dagat task force conducted a sweep of Barangay Dalipuga on Wednesday, collecting an average of 15 sacks of waste per operation.

Bantay Dagat head Eric Capitan said the trash consists mainly of cellophane, food packs, plastic bottles, and papers.

“We hope we can protect our environment, especially our seas, because our actions may have an effect when the time comes,” he said.

Capitan cited the importance of public discipline in solid waste management.

The city enforces Ordinance 11-5763, which bans single-use plastics as wrappers or containers.

Bantay Dagat also trained personnel on standard procedures for enforcing the ordinance, from apprehension to issuing citation tickets. (PNA)