Manila, April 14 -- Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP), a non-government organization (NGO) based in Negros Oriental, has collected some 13 million pieces of plastic in the province's beaches over a 10-year period.

MCP founder and president Soren Lund Knudsen told the Philippine News Agency in an interview on Monday that it has been a big challenge for them to deal with the problem of irresponsible use of plastics.

"One of the most significant challenges to health and prosperity of the Philippines fisheries is the issues of ocean plastics. Plastic, when exposed to sunlight and other elements, breaks down into smaller fragments and is ingested by fish," Knudsen said.

"This affects the food chain, and basically we are eating our own g...