“Attracting tourists…should not be an excuse”

Rocks painted as part of a resort attraction endanger local water quality in the Philippines.

As the Daily Guardian reported, the colorful stones at a resort in Murcia went viral after a social media post. The purpose of the paint was to attract tourists, but environmental officials consider it an act of vandalism and a violation of the Clean Water Act.

Officials believe that similar stones at the Lusaran Dam in Cebu City inspired the stones painted here.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources coordinated the investigation of the painted stones with other local authorities. They found that the color could potentially threaten the river's water quality and marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Officials ordered the paint removed through manual scrubbing, pressure washing and other environmentally friendly methods. The goal is to avoid further contaminating the water with chemicals to remove it.

A ministry official, Raul L. Lorilla, said: “Attracting tourists for potential economic growth should not be an excuse for any resort owner or businessman to destroy and damage our natural resources.”

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This news is an excellent example of the need to balance tourism and natural beauty responsibly and sustainably.

Most paints contain chemicals that can contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life. This is particularly concerning if the paint contains volatile organic compounds or plastic components that break down into microplastics.

Some animals mistake painted rocks for food and try to eat them, causing digestive problems. Painted stones also unnecessarily alter the natural landscape and detract from the pure aesthetics of an area.

Aside from painted rocks, it is important to never throw paint outside because of the high potential for contamination. It's also best to keep painted rocks out of forests and other ecosystems.

“No matter how good the intention, painting rocks in the forest is not only illegal, but can also have negative impacts on the environment,” according to the U.S. Forest Service-Santa Fe National Forest. “Paints and sealants degrade when exposed to the elements and can harm wildlife and watersheds.”

“We all want to enjoy our environment and its natural beauty, not the painted one,” said Lorilla from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, commenting on the resort’s painted rocks.

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