Personal protective equipment (PPE) washes up on coral reefs near the Philippine capital Manila. According to an estimate by the Asian Development Bank, the city has generated an additional 280 tons of medical waste per day since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Environmental groups warn that the plastic inner masks will collapse and be consumed by marine animals. They call on the Philippine government to improve the management of medical waste to prevent further ocean pollution.
BBC’s Howard Johnson joined divers at the Anilao Scuba Dive Center, a group affiliated with the United Nations Environment Program’s Green Fins that promotes sustainable marine tourism in Southeast Asia.
Video produced by Howard Johnson and Virma Simonette Additional camera work: Mark Badiola and Jojo D. Lontok
