Manila: The Philippine government has signed a five-year partnership with Rotterdam-based non-profit group The Ocean Cleanup to remove floating waste from the Pasig River and use low-cost innovative technologies to reduce plastic pollution before it reaches Manila Bay and the ocean. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced that this collaboration is a part of a broader strategy to intercept plastic waste already present in waterways, complementing existing policies aimed at reducing pollution at its source, and supporting the objectives of the Pasig River rehabilitation efforts.
According to Philippines News Agency, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, 'The Pasig River has carried the burden of our consumption habits for far too long. We cannot allow this river to remain a pipeline of plastic to the ocean. This agreement is a decisive step toward breaking that cycle.' The partnership is aligned with the government's regulatory efforts under Republic Act 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, which mandates large companies to recover and recycle plastic packaging they produce.
The Ocean Cleanup, renowned for developing large-scale river and ocean cleanup systems, has deployed 21 interceptors across 10 countries and collected over 52 million kilograms of waste from aquatic environments as of April 2026. Its technology employs solar-powered automated systems designed for high-volume waste capture, which are expected to be adapted to the heavy waste load along the Pasig River.
Cuna noted that the strategic initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives under the 'Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli' project. He stated, 'By integrating The Ocean Cleanup's cutting-edge solutions with the government's local restoration programs, the partnership aims to fulfill the President's vision of a clean, navigable, and vibrant Pasig River that serves as a cornerstone for sustainable urban renewal and national pride.'
This collaboration is also part of The Ocean Cleanup's 30 Cities Program, which aims to expand interceptor deployments across key cities in Asia and the Americas to reduce plastic flowing from rivers into oceans before the end of the decade. Additionally, the partnership will focus on knowledge transfer to the Pasig River Coordinating and Management Office under the DENR-National Capital Region (NCR), to enable local authorities to sustain cleanup operations beyond the project's duration.
Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, highlighted the importance of strong partnerships in addressing global plastic pollution. He expressed optimism in working with the DENR and local partners to strengthen efforts and achieve lasting results. 'This agreement with DENR brings together local leadership and global expertise to accelerate action in one of the world's most important coastal regions,' Slat said.
The DENR reported that preparations for deployments in the Manila Bay region are already in progress, with The Ocean Cleanup surveying nearly 100 sites to determine priority locations. In addition to the Pasig River, the organization is preparing to deploy its first interceptor barrier on the Meycauayan River in Bulacan to reduce plastic leakage into Manila Bay. The Ocean Cleanup's work in Manila is supported by Energies PH, a renewable energy developer in the country focused on breakthrough clean technologies.
'This partnership allows us to confront the problem from both ends - by holding producers accountable and by deploying the technology needed to intercept the waste already in our waters,' Cuna concluded.
