The use of plastic has been one of the most contentious points of the environmental movement throughout the years. One of the ongoing areas in which environmental concerns play out is a large mass of plastic waste in the western border of the Pacific Ocean which touches Asia.

The problem continues since plastics are becoming more durable and disposable, meaning they are built to last much longer. However, efforts such as recycling can go a long way toward preventing these plastics from finding its way into the ocean and eventually the Western Pacific Areas. Even with no clear international laws to protect these areas, individual countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines that contribute most to the problem can encourage efforts to clean up the patch from individual research and environmental organizations in addition to prevention efforts.

The Philippine Sea Plate forms the floor of the sea, bringing into a portion of the western North Pacific Ocean. Two of its beautiful spots are Boracay Island and Manila Bay where tourists unceasingly have a good stay for its beauty until it looks unpleasant to the eye because of the human abuse, treating it as an infinite trash and rubbish catcher.

“The Philippines is among the countries with the most number of plastic wastes being dumped into the seas, despite the enactment of Republic 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act since 2001. The country generates about 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste and half a million metric tons of plastic waste leakage each year, data from the Ocean Conservancy stated…”

There are many reasons these particular areas have garnered so much attention. Even though the plastic breaks down to smaller polymers, environmental groups note the problems that can occur with the presence of this debris throughout the patch, particularly the effect it has on marine and wildlife. Furthermore, these effects can then be transferred to humans.

The largest effect this patch has on the environment is that some of this debris can end up in the food chain starting with the animals that consume the smallest marine life. The debris from this plastic resembles plankton, so it can be mistaken for food, meaning the animals that eat plankton and other smaller creatures are contaminated with plastic dust and fragments. Not surprisingly, this also means that humans who depend upon these marine animals for their food and livelihood also suffer the effects of this plastic contamination.

Of course, this is not the only effect this plastic waste has. It has been noted that the patch is not visible to the human eye or by satellite, but much of the debris and trash are actually found below the water's surface. This not only means that the plastic that breaks down into smaller particles falls down the ocean surface, but also the larger pieces that float near the water surface can create false habitats and create confusion in many of the species that survive in this area of the ocean. Organisms living at the bottom of the ocean's surface may also have to fight with plastic building up in their habitats.

One of the effects most familiar to people is when animals get caught in plastic debris. Animals such as fish have been known to get caught in the plastic binding used to hold cans together. However, many people may not be aware that these plastics can also attract other pollutants that can harm the ocean's marine life. For instance, hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, and pesticides like DDT (n. a synthetic organic compound used as an insecticide) are sometimes dumped in the ocean as well and find their way toward these plastic pollutants. The combination of these pollutants can be very deadly to marine life.

So what can be done to alleviate this problem? The social responsibility in fighting the garbage patch lies within the multiple countries that contribute to the problem. However, these global environmental protection efforts can start locally with each step contributing to the solution.

It should also be noted that since the garbage patch lies in international waters, there has been very little government concern with cleaning up the debris or even preventing it. Without immediate action, it is predicted that "By 2025, the world's ocean will contain nearly 250 million metric tons of plastic, according to the 2015 study of the Ocean Conservancy." With this, it could create more toxins in the food chain.

In the case of the world-famous tourist spots in the Philippines such as Boracay Island and Manila Bay, the Government headed by current President Rodrigo Duterte has had strong determination to bring back its pristine state as it rehabilitated in 2018 and 2019, respectively. You will see a more stunning scenic and charming tourist places ever, only in the Philippines!

Let us not dwell on what the government alone can do, but every constituent of every local government should take action to help preserve the environment we utmost care and live in. Indeed, you do not know what the 11th commandment is yet. Come closer and let me whisper it to you, “Love thy nature as you love yourself.”