MANILA, Philippines — The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission told the organizers of the controversial balloon dropping event to abandon the use of balloons altogether. The statement came after a photo circulating online supposedly showing Cove Manila with orange balloons to be used for the drop still hanging from the ceiling. READ: New Year's Eve balloon drop 'environmentally sound,' club saysThe DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau, however, said that even biodegradable balloons would take six months to four years to decompose. The PRRC said that the purchase of the balloons shows Okada Manila’s failure in research. It pointed out that a “sound environmental management protocol should have been to refuse the purchase, or use, of 130,000 balloons" which would pollute the Pasig River and the Manila Bay and endanger its aquatic life.

Source: Philippine Star December 31, 2018 06:16 UTC