Fish bought in Puerto Princesa market yields plastic trash

Various kinds of plastic items were found inside the belly of a fish sold in a market in Puerto Princesa.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras" on Monday,  Mary Vanessa Guzman-Tan, the uploader, said the fish contained candy wrappers, bottle caps, and a yellow plastic spoon.

Tan said her father was supposed to buy fish at the market but was shocked to see what was inside its belly.

"Pati nga raw 'yong nagtitinda nagulat din na may ganoong laman ang tiyan ng isda. Ang nangyari, hindi na po siya bumili at tsaka nagulat po siya at medyo nabahala kasi first time niya nakakita," Tan said.

(The vendor was also surprised to see what's inside the fish. My dad decided not to buy the fish anymore.)

Fish vendors said the presence of plastic trash inside fishes is already common in Puerto Princesa.

"Madalas po 'yan. Paisa-isa 'yong plastik na nakikita ko. Madalas po 'yong straw, balat ng candy at tsitsirya," Romula Tupas said.

(That's common here. Sometimes we can find straws, candy wrappers, and chip bags inside.)

The Palawan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), meanwhile, said the trash might not have come from the province.

"'Yang mga basura kung saan-saan nanggagaling 'yan. Siyempre, 'pag hahangin, baka naman nanggaling din sa ibang lugar," Eriberto Saños of the Palawan PENRO said.

(The trash can come from anywhere. Maybe it was carried away by the wind.)

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the incident is a reminder to the public to dispose of their waste properly.

Further, it urged local government units to come up with a comprehensive ecological solid waste program. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News