The vast waters surrounding the Philippines and the hundreds of thousands of people who depend on them for their livelihood are facing threats that are, in some ways, more serious than those posed by China and its maritime assertions. Those waters are in constant danger of being polluted by microplastics and losing various species of fish. Recently, I joined a group of young people dedicated to protecting the environment on a beach cleanup project in Cebu. I was astounded by the huge volume of discarded plastic items we collected during the cleanup. Bottles, toys, shoes, shopping bags, and everything else made of plastic were there.

Cullen, S. (2025, June 23). High Seas Treaty to protect Philippine seas, 1. Panay News, p. 8.