Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

Philippines

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2021/09/03

Policy framework

National Action Plan

Name:

  1. National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction and Management of marine Litter (NPOA-ML)
  2. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP)
  3. Philippine SCP Strategic Framework and Action Plan

Brief description:

  1. The NPOA-ML was developed to provide a blueprint to enhance the current efforts of the country in resource and waste management and to bring additional lens to marine litter issues and the control of additional leakage of waste into the bodies of water.

    Objective – To provide a blueprint to enhance the current efforts of the country in resource and waste management and to bring additional lens to marine litter issues and the control of additional leakage of waste into bodies of water.

    Overarching Goal – ” Zero waste to Philippine waters by 2040 ” to support the Vision of ” A Philippines free of marine litter through shared participation, responsibility, and accountability “

    The Action Plan was divided into two clusters as follows:

    Strategy 1: Establish science- and evidence-based baseline information on marine litter

    Strategy 2: Mainstream circular economy (CE) and sustainable consumption and production (SCP) initiatives

    Strategy 3: Enhance recovery and recycling coverage and markets

    Strategy 4: Prevent leakage from collected or disposed waste

    Strategy 5: Reduce maritime sources of marine litter

    Strategy 6: Manage litter that is already existing in the riverine and marine environments

    B. Enabling/Cross-cutting Cluster of Actions

    Strategy 7: Enhance policy support and enforcement for marine litter prevention and management

    Strategy 8: Develop and implement strategic and targeted social marketing and communications campaigns using various media

    Strategy 9: Enable sufficient and cost-effective financing and other institutional resource requirements for the implementation of the NPOA-ML

  2. This Program addresses threats to the coastal and marine biodiversity such as the threat from marine litter pollution. To implement this in Marine Protected Areas, learning event on Marine Litter was conducted and participated by Protected Area Superintendents and other regional officers and staff. Subject of the learning event are: a) Basic issues, sources, threats, mechanisms and pathways of marine litter, b) Global policies and regional policies, frameworks and declarations on prevention and management of marine litter, the existing national and local policies, programs , initiatives related to marine litter reduction.
  3. The formulation of a Philippine SCP Strategic Framework and Action Plan is led by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The Framework and Action Plan aims to guide and facilitate the implementation of SCP across sectors in the country and to lay down the priority strategies and activities per core SCP thematic areas to support and advance SCP implementation. Proposed interventions in three thematic areas include sustainable business and lifestyles; resource conservation, efficiency, and cleaner production; and recycling and waste and chemicals management.

Legal framework

Name:

  1. Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
  2. Presidential Decree (PD) 979 or the Marine Pollution decree of 1976
  3. Relevant ng Bills:
    1. House Bill No. 5773
    2. House Bill No. 7609
    3. House Resolution No. 007694
    4. House Bill No. 7128
    5. House Bill No. 8691
    6. House Bill No. 5199
    7. House Bill No. 7609

Brief description:

  1. RA 9003, was signed into law in 26 January 2001. This law provides for the necessary institutional support mechanisms and instructs all LGUs to establish solid waste management (SWM) programs within their jurisdictions.
  2. PD 979 is a policy support for implementing sea-based waste management strategies. Under PD 979, the National Pollution Control Commission (now the EMB) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are empowered to promulgate national rules and policies governing marine pollution. However, marine pollution policies that followed thereafter are only included as excerpts or sections of a larger national policies pertaining to either marine or waste management. Similar to RA 9003’s Section 48 prohibition on littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places and canals, thePhilippineClean Water Act of 2004 or RA 9275 has a similar stipulation under Section 27 prohibiting unauthorized transport or dumping into sea waters of sewage sludge or solid waste
  3. Relevant ng Bills:
    1. An Act Banning the Manufacture, Importation, Sale, and Use of Single-Use Plastic Products, Providing Funds Therefore and for other Purposes
    2. An Act to Promote Circular Economy and a Whole-of-Nation Transition Toward a Sustainable Future
    3. Resolution Directing the Committee on Climate Change to Look into the Integration of the Circular Economy Concept into the Country’s Low-Emissions Development Strategy and the Minimization of Waste generation through Prevention, Reduction, Recycling and Reuse Towards Ecological Integrity and Clean and Healthy Environment
    4. An Act Establishing the Use of Ecological Waste-to-Energy Management System, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No.8749, Otherwise Known as the Clean Air Act of 1999, and for other Purposes
    5. An Act Institutionalizing the Practice of Extended Producers Responsibility in Waste Management, Amending for Purpose Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Act of 2000
    6. An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7160, Otherwise Known as the Local Government Code of 1991, For Purpose of Enhancing the Power of Local Government Units in Waste Management and for Other Purposes
    7. An Act Mandating the Local Government Units to Institutionalize Rewards for Compliance with Section 32 of RA 9003, Otherwise Known as Solid Waste Management, and Appropriating Funds Thereof

Measures

Measures

Achievements

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Names of actions:
BMB Memorandum Circular banning the use of Single-use Plastics and Encouraging the Use of Biodegradable Reusable Materials within BMB and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

Municipality/City Ordinances;

Targeted products:
Shopping bags, straws, cups, spoons and forks

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
In terms of use of the targeted products, there is actually an improvement. They are now being refused by consumers and being replaced by reusables

Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design

Names of actions:
Information & Education Campaign (IEC)

Communication, Education and Public Awareness Activities

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system
  We do not see any particular trend

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Names of actions:

  1. Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 96-009 Anti-Littering Law
  2. RA 9003’s Section 48
  3. Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 or RA 9275 Section 27
  4. RA 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 , as amended by RA 11038, also known as the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018

Brief description:

  1. MMDA Regulation No. 96-009, entitled, “PROHIBITING LITTERING/ DUMPING/ THROWING OF GARBAGE, RUBBISH OR ANY KIND OF WASTE IN OPEN OR PUBLIC PLACES, AND REQUIRING ALL OWNER’S, LESSEES, OCCUPANTS OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, WHETHER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE CLEANLINESS OF THEIR FRONTAGE AND IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF”, was enacted into law by the Metro Manila Council on the 22nd Day of August, 1996. The regulation was amended on May 6, 1999 by MMDA Regulation No. 99-006.
  2. prohibition on littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places and canals
  3. prohibition on unauthorized transport or dumping into sea waters of sewage sludge or solid waste
  4. NIPAS Act of 1992 and its amendment, the ENIPAS Act of 2018 provides for the management of all designated protected areas (PAs), in order to maintain essential ecological processes and life support systems and maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible. Both RAs prohibit dumping of any waste products and leaving refuse or debris or depositing in ground or in bodies of water. RA 11038 additionally provides for deputation of support for enforcement and its Section 9 stipulates the inclusion of waste, sewerage and septage management in PA management plans
 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Names of actions:

International Coastal Clean-ups (ICC)

Brief description:

The Philippines officially joined the ICC in 1994 with the International Maritime Alliance (IMA) as the country coordinator and more than 3,000 volunteers cleaned the shorelines and underwater sites and since 1998, the Philippines has consistently topped the ICC, in terms of volunteer turnout.

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution
  We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Check the following actions in your country.

Choose the most appropriate options to describe the achievements attained through the measures selected, using quantitative information if any.

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

Names of actions:
The Healthy Oceans Clean Cities Initiative (HOCCI).

Brief description:
A one-year project focused around 6 cities in the Philippines towards reducing their Marine Plastic Litter (MPL). The goal is to reduce marine plastic pollution and the strategy is sstrengthening institutional capacity to support the operationalization and localization of the National Plan of Action (NPOA) on Marine Litter. The implementing Entity is the UN-Habitat, ROAP

  

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Names of actions:

  1. Partnership of DENR BMB with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CORA being involved in the Clean Seas Pilipinas
  2. Celebration of Month of the Ocean (MOO) 2019
  3. Coral Triangle Day (CT Day)
  4. Conduct DENR-BMB’s CY 2020 Webinar on Marine Litter 101
  5. Partnership of DENR BMB with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Brief description:

  1. Clean Seas Pilipinas aims to establish a national network of partners working with communities and schools to organize, support, and sustain a campaign to reduce ocean plastics. The campaign was launched during the celebration of the International Year of the Reef in 2018 and supports an integral part of United Nations Environment Programme’s Clean Seas: Turn the Tide Against Plastics campaign. The campaign aims to produce the following outcomes; 1) help identify and convince national partners, both public and private, to support a grassroots campaign 2) help partner academic institutions develop and implement policies that would ban, reduce, or lessen the selling and use of PET Bottles, Plastic Straws, and Plastic Bags within school premises. 3) help and encourage partner LGUs and communities improve their system of collecting, managing, and consolidating discarded/ used fishing nets and other types of plastic waste.
  2. MOO 2019’s theme is “”Free the Seas from Marine Debris.” MOO is celebrated every month of May
  3. The CT Day 2018 was celebrated with an Instagram Campaign that focuses on ACTION and PLEDGES inviting people to join the #PLASTICRESISTANCE and to encourage their family and friends to do the same! CT Day was envisioned as be an annual, open-sourced event that brings together individuals, organizations, and establishments on one special day of the year to shed light on ocean conservation and the numerous ways to protect and conserve the Coral Triangle every June 9.
  4. The Webinar is an orientation, awareness raising and capacity building designed for the Protected Area Superintendents (PASus) about the problems related to the marine litter.
  5. The DENR BMB and DSWD partnership has developed modules on solid waste management and prevention, reduction and management of marine litter for the low-income families’ awareness and education.

National level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Local level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
Coastal Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development, and Extension Center (CRERDEC) Project

Brief description:
ERDB, which is the principal research and development (R&D) unit of the DENR, has been conducting a study since 2018 to determine the extent of microplastic waste and contamination in the selected major water bodies of the Philippines. The objective is to determine the extent of microplastic pollution in Philippine marine waters, water samples were collected at shorelines at less than 1 meter, and at the subsurface about 5, 15 and 30 meters below and 1.5 and 3 km from the shoreline. At the laboratory, samples were subjected to filtration and microscopic analysis. Initial findings from the nine study sites, collecting more than 50,000 pieces of microplastics

  

Challenges

  • Recycling system improvement
  • Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)
  • Data collection related to waste in general
  • Data collection related to marine plastic litter
  • Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments
  • Lack of financial incentives for waste treatment in general
  • Lack of financial incentives for technology development
  • Project delays due to COVID-19

Best practices

National level
Flagship Cleanup and Rehabilitation Initiatives

April 2018 – closure of the Island of Boracay, the country’s top tourist destination to immediately address the environmental concerns, which include the wetlands, terrestrial habitats, coastal and marine and their ecosystems services

January 2019, DENR started implementing the “Manila Bay Coastal Strategy 2017-2022” in cooperation with other Mandamus agencies. The Writ of Continuing Mandamus was issued by the Supreme Court on December 18, 2016, directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to levels fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation

Private sector

  1. National Ecosavers Program is partly Information Education Campaign (IEC) and partly waste segregation and recycling, encouraging children to bring their recyclables to school in exchange for incentives such as school materials. Under this Program, the country’ cities and municipalities have also taken the lead in promoting segregation at the household level.Similar programs have likewise been made in partnership with private organizations and with different targets (e.g. collection of soft plastics, bottles, etc.) and institutions (e.g. barangays, schools). Despite banking on financial incentives to drive participation, it has a strong potential for scaling up to a larger population and scaling out to other institutions if properly linked to local recycling industries.The country’s cities and municipalities have also taken the lead in promoting segregation at the household level under the National Ecosavers Program.
  2. AUDEO Manufacturing OPC. AUDEO is introducing an alternative eco-friendly building system to the Philippines that will help solve the plastic pollution crisis and the mass housing backlog in the country. AUDEO is committed to accomplishing two major goals in the Philippines: (1) Reducing the mass housing backlog and (2) Solving the country’s plastic waste issue. The material of their building system is composed of 90% upcycled plastic which can be directly sourced from landfills, oceans, waterways, and streets. Additionally, they can transform the “hard to recycle” plastics into their bricks, thus reducing the country’s plastic footprint.
  3. Plastic 3R Hacks PH or the so-called “Hackaton”. This initiative is supported by UN-Habitat’s Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative, HOCCI in partnership with Red Wizard (private sector). This is an open call to the youth aged 18-30 to suggest 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Ideas/Solutions. The “Hackaton” is a series of events, i.e., Pre-Hack Event entrants will be given an overview on the challenge to be solved; cities will present challenges), Orientation on (SWM101, Plastics101 Circular Economy 101, MarineConservation101 and Waste and SDGs101), Mentoring (upon request of entrants) and Finals Judging. Winners will have prizes and so far, our partner from Red Wizard already sent out invites to its tech networks as well as universities.
  4. CEMEX Holdings Philippines in partnership with Unilever Philippines for TSEK Clean Community Program. The 2 companies recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding for the intensified implementation of TSEK or Tamang Segregasyon para sa Kalikasan which is a solid waste management program initiated by CEMEX Philippines Foundation for the said Program. he TSEK clean community program is driven by a multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote proper waste segregation and proper disposal of residual waste through co-processing, implemented through an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign. Through the “Basuraffle”, households are encouraged to surrender properly segregated wastes to their municipality, where for every kilo of dry plastic wastes, community resident participants are given a raffle coupon. Raffle items, which will now include Unilever products, are awarded during the raffle draws held every last Friday of the month. Unilever will also coordinate with affiliated stores to help in the information dissemination of TSEK, and haul and deliver segregated plastic wastes collected from partner local government units to the CEMEX Solid Cement Plant in Rizal for co-processing.

Contact details

EDILBERTO DC LEONARDO
Undersecretary for Special Concerns and
OIC Director, Biodiversity Management Bureau
director@bmb.gov.ph

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