BAUAN, Batangas — The coronavirus pandemic is adding a new unwelcome element to sea pollution off the town of Bauan, a popular dive site in the Philippines’ Batangas province.
Regular visitors and locals have reported a rise in the number of face masks and PPE shields being collected from the seabed.
“It might be because some people who get on the boat just loop their masks on one end and it comes off, or others just do not throw them away properly,” said Arnel Vergara, a Filipino professional diver who has been diving in the area for the past decade.
Carmela Sevilla, a resort owner and diving instructor, said the masks were adding to plastic bags, sachets, diapers and pac…
Keep on reading: Face masks add to sea pollution at popular dive site in Batangas