Plastic makes up 91% of marine litter in Manila Bay – Group

DAVAO CITY — Plastic waste accounts for 91% of the marine debris collected in Manila Bay, an environmental group reported last week.

During a press conference, the EcoWaste Coalition, in partnership with De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, presented the findings of its 2024 Marine Litter Monitoring Survey Report. The report revealed a 36% decrease in the volume of marine litter and a 42% reduction in the total weight of collected waste from 2023 to 2024 across 10 project sites.

These sites include Silangan, Rosario; Timalan, Naic; Sahud Ulan, Tanza; Capipisa, Tanza; and Julugan, Tanza in Cavite, as well as San Dionisio, Parañaque; and Tanza, Navotas in the National Capital Region. The Bataan sites include Cabcaben, Mariveles; Agwawan Beach, Barangay Simsiman, Mariveles; and Bantan, Orion.

Despite the overall reduction in marine debris, the data showed a 16% increase in litter counts during the wet season compared to the dry months.

“These findings reflect our progress, but they also underscore the urgent need for stricter waste management practices,” said Wes Lipana, EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Officer for the Enhancement of Marine Litter Management (EMLM). “While we’ve made significant strides in reducing litter, the continued prevalence of plastics signals that more collective action is needed from both government and the public.”

The group outlined several key actions to address the ongoing challenge of marine litter:

1. Strict enforcement of existing environmental laws, such as Republic Act 9003 (the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) and Republic Act 9275 (the Clean Water Act), to ensure accountability at all levels.
2. Expansion of information campaigns at the barangay level to raise awareness about waste segregation, plastic pollution, and sustainable disposal practices.
3. The Manual for Beach Litter Monitoring Program recommends adopting standardized cleanup methods to improve data collection and cleanup efficiency.
4. Development of a comprehensive, integrated marine litter management plan for Manila Bay, combining government and community efforts.

The group also encouraged everyone to actively participate in these initiatives by adopting sustainable waste management practices in their daily lives to protect Manila Bay and other vital coastal ecosystems across the country.

The EMLM project, which runs from 2021 to 2025, is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency Philippines and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corp., through the Our Sea of East Asia Network.