Manila: A three-year survey on the Manila Bay coastline has revealed a significant reduction in marine litter from 2023 to 2025, though plastics continue to account for the overwhelming majority of collected debris.
According to Philippines News Agency, the EcoWaste Coalition of the Philippines confirmed in its final report released on Friday that while the total abundance and mass of litter per meter have decreased, plastics still dominate the bay's environment. "The annual comparison from 2023 to 2025 reveals a significant reduction in both the abundance and mass of marine litter per meter of coastline in Manila Bay. Plastics remain the dominant component, though substantial decreases across all categories suggest positive impacts of enhanced waste management and rehabilitation efforts," the report stated.
Data showed that plastics overwhelmingly dominate the litter load, accounting for 91 percent of the total count and 66 percent of the total weight. The study estimated that more than 7.2 million litter items, weighing over 307,000 kg, are scattered along the 190-km coastline of the bay. Of this, over 6.5 million items are plastic-based.
According to the Coalition, the litter is predominantly composed of single-use consumer items, including sachets, wrappers, beverage containers, and plastic utensils. The report also noted significant temporal variability, with debris accumulation peaking during the month of August. "The monthly comparison demonstrates significant temporal variability in marine litter accumulation along the Manila Bay coastline. August recorded the highest debris abundance and mass, while February exhibited comparatively lower levels," the report added.
Geographically, sites in the National Capital Region exhibited the highest litter densities and mass loads due to dense populations and major drainage outfalls. In contrast, sites in Cavite and Bataan generally showed lower debris levels. To address the extensive scale of pollution, the report recommended the strict implementation of environmental laws, including Republic Act 9003 (Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) and the 2008 Supreme Court Mandamus on Manila Bay.
"Concerned government agencies should devise an integrated marine litter management plan for Manila Bay that would include a mechanism for the collection and storage of monitoring data that can be utilized in further studies and improvement of marine litter management," the researchers recommended. The report further urged local government units to conduct regular coastal cleanups and information campaigns to educate households and resort owners on proper waste segregation and the negative impacts of plastic pollution.
The Marine Litter Monitoring Survey in Manila Bay (2023-2025) serves as a key component of the "Enhancement of Marine Litter Management in Manila Bay, Philippines (2021-2025)" project, a multi-year initiative funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency through the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM) and Our Sea of East Asia Network in partnership with the EcoWaste Coalition of the Philippines.
