MANILA, Philippines – A day at the beach is always fun but a photo of a group of beachgoers earns the ire of netizens.
Netizens slammed a group of beachgoers for throwing and abusing starfishes. According to the post, the group was allegedly composed of teachers of the Department of Education (DepEd). The group were in Bataraza, Palawan and while they were enjoying the clear waters, the group posed throwing starfishes in the air.
Netizens couldn't help but express their outrage towards the beachgoers. Some called them out for their lack of education and respect for marine life. Netizens also reported the incident to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
On Twitter, DENR gave an update that they are already looking into the matter. They tweeted, “Hi. The Biodiversity Management Bureau has already notified the field office in Palawan and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Devt. An info campaign will also be prepared for this.”
Due to the information that the beachgoers were allegedly teachers, DENR even tagged DepEd in the tweet.
DENR reiterated the importance of sustainable tourism. They stated, “That is essence of sustainable tourism: protecting and conserving the very source of their livelihood, which is their environment and natural resources, so that others can enjoy and appreciate these for a longer period of time.”
The Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, an environmental conservation organization also condemned the photo. On Facebook, they wrote, “We should learn how to respect other life forms and stop using them as props for photos.”
While starfishes have hard and tough exterior and can easily regenerate, they still need to be handled with care. Stress, lack of water and even sun heat can easily harm some marine animals, including the starfish.
— Sally, The Summit Express
Netizens slammed a group of beachgoers for throwing and abusing starfishes. According to the post, the group was allegedly composed of teachers of the Department of Education (DepEd). The group were in Bataraza, Palawan and while they were enjoying the clear waters, the group posed throwing starfishes in the air.
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| Alleged teachers earned the ire of netizens for “throwing and abusing” starfishes | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Palawan Supernews |
Netizens couldn't help but express their outrage towards the beachgoers. Some called them out for their lack of education and respect for marine life. Netizens also reported the incident to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
On Twitter, DENR gave an update that they are already looking into the matter. They tweeted, “Hi. The Biodiversity Management Bureau has already notified the field office in Palawan and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Devt. An info campaign will also be prepared for this.”
 |
| Beachgoers pose with starfishes | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Palawan Supernews |
Due to the information that the beachgoers were allegedly teachers, DENR even tagged DepEd in the tweet.
Hi. The Biodiversity Management Bureau has already notified the field office in Palawan and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Devt. An info campaign will also be prepared for this. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.— DENR (@DENROfficial) November 13, 2018
CC: @DepEd_PH
DENR reiterated the importance of sustainable tourism. They stated, “That is essence of sustainable tourism: protecting and conserving the very source of their livelihood, which is their environment and natural resources, so that others can enjoy and appreciate these for a longer period of time.”
The Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, an environmental conservation organization also condemned the photo. On Facebook, they wrote, “We should learn how to respect other life forms and stop using them as props for photos.”
While starfishes have hard and tough exterior and can easily regenerate, they still need to be handled with care. Stress, lack of water and even sun heat can easily harm some marine animals, including the starfish.
— Sally, The Summit Express
