To the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)
2nd Flr., Balanga Rural Bank Building,
Don Miguel Banson Ave. City of Balanga, Bataan
Attn: Mr. Noel Dominguez
Office of Protective Area Superintendent
November 3, 2011
Greetings, Sir and to whomever this may concern,
My name is Lexi Payumo and I am a concerned citizen from Sinagtala, Tala, Orani, Bataan. I went for a hike to the Orani River a couple of weeks ago, and was greeted by litter at the start of the trail. I was shocked by the amount of trash at the start and end of a would’ve-been-lovely walk to the river. All throughout the steps, there were more plastic bags and wrappers carelessly thrown by litterers on their way up or down. My friends and I were on a mission to collect pieces of garbage we saw but did not expect the amount we came across with. We produced two big trash bags filled of plastic material, broken bottles, and used and unused cigarettes.
I found out that most garbage that met us at the start, is also right next to your Nature Center. Isn’t it a big and sad irony that your goal is to make our country’s environment healthier but your front and back yard is turning into a small landfill? I don’t mean to be harsh and critical and I’m sorry to cause any offense but I would just like to express this concern. Good news though is there is still something that could be done! Your Nature Center is in a great location to make environmental changes (because so many tourists and locals pass by your building before starting or ending the walk), and it could be utilized in ways that promote safe guarding the environment rather than being an example of neglect to it.If the office is not being used, the simplest solution to prevent scattered litter would be placing several large and segregated trash bins. Biodegradable (i.e. food wastes, banana peels, banana leaves from suman), non-biodegradable (i.e. chip bags, candy wrappers, plastic labels), and recyclables (plastic bottles and cans). There are a couple trash can designs too that serve several purposes. One is having a bin with a swivel cover to block off wind or animals but is still easy and sanitary to use, and another (even more affordable), bamboo framings where big garbage bags can easily be hooked inside it, so that when it’s full, it’s as simple as removing, tying, and being ready for pick up.
These could be placed at the start of the trail (at the corner in front of the waiting shed), or on the hill right behind your Nature Center. A big sign that encourages people to throw their trash there, and bring whatever trash they produce up with them will help a lot. A friendly reminder such as, “Basura mo, pagbaba, bitbit mo pagakyat” would encourage them.
This doable and affordable measure will decrease litter and teach people the good habit of throwing their garbage properly. When people see a garbage can in their midst, they will walk to it and throw it there. But if there is none, people will just freely throw it anywhere thinking it’s okay. And if people see there is already litter in that area, more and more people will do the same. It’s the broken windows theory.
This was what we collected:
We garnered two big trash bags and made the path to the pristine river a little greener and cleaner. We brought it back with us to Sinagtala so it could get picked up with our other wastes. Thank you so much for reading this letter, and hoping for your kind action. Mother Nature will repay you.Sincerely,
Lexi Payumo
