Efforts to reduce plastic pollution in some of the country’s most important waterways are set to intensify following a new partnership between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and global nonprofit organization The Ocean Cleanup.
The collaboration, formalized through a five-year agreement signed on Thursday, aims to prevent plastic waste from reaching Manila Bay by deploying advanced waste interception technologies and strengthening scientific research and data-sharing initiatives focused on river pollution.
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Pasig River Targeted for Waste Interception Efforts
Under the agreement, the DENR and The Ocean Cleanup will work together to capture waste flowing through the Pasig River while utilizing innovative and cost-effective technologies to support environmental monitoring and analysis.
The Ocean Cleanup has built a global reputation for developing large-scale river interceptors and ocean cleanup systems. As of April 2026, the organization has deployed 21 interceptors in 10 countries, recovering more than 52 million kilograms of trash from marine environments.
Manila Bay and the Pasig River system have been identified as priority areas under The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Program, an initiative that seeks to deploy solutions across 30 major cities in Asia and the Americas. The program aims to eliminate up to one-third of all plastic flowing from rivers to oceans worldwide before the end of the decade.
The organization plans to deploy its solar-powered, automated, and high-capacity technology to address the significant volume of waste continuously entering the Pasig River.
“The Pasig River has carried the burden of our consumption habits for far too long,” Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna emphasized.
“We cannot allow this river to remain a pipeline of plastic to the ocean. This agreement is a decisive step toward breaking that cycle,” Cuna added.
Supporting River Restoration and Environmental Protection
Preparations for interceptor deployment are already underway across the Manila Bay region. According to the DENR, The Ocean Cleanup has surveyed almost 100 sites and is coordinating with government officials to determine locations where the technology can deliver the greatest impact.
In addition to several areas along the Pasig River, the organization will install its first interceptor barrier at the Meycauayan River in Bulacan.
The initiative also complements the government’s implementation of Republic Act 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which requires companies to recover and recycle the plastic packaging they place on the market.
Cuna said the partnership will contribute to the government's "Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli" (PBBM) program aimed at sustainable urban renewal.
“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,” Cuna explained.
The Ocean Cleanup founder and CEO Boyan Slat also highlighted the value of combining local and international expertise to address plastic pollution.
"This agreement with DENR brings together local leadership and global expertise to accelerate action in one of the world's most important coastal regions. By combining research, data and operational experience, we can identify where our Interceptor technology will have the greatest impact and help stop plastic before it reaches Manila Bay and the ocean," Slat said.
Supported by the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, the Dutch Embassy in Manila, and EnergiesPH, the initiative is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to restore key waterways. For Filipinos, cleaner rivers can contribute to reduced flooding risks, healthier marine ecosystems, improved public health, and better protection of coastal communities that rely on clean water and sustainable fisheries.
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