Over 1.1 million kilograms of ocean waste were collected since the aggressive coastal clean-up drive across the country started in 2016, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the aggressive port and coastal clean-up activities were reinforced by policies which resulted in the steady decline of total amount of waste collected in all PPA governed ports nationwide.
From 138,173 kilograms in 2016, PPA data revealed that it went down to just 45,321 kilograms in the first half of 2024.
“Notably, waste collection dropped dramatically from 289,628 kilograms in 2018 to 77,860 kilograms in 2023, reflecting the agency’s effective waste management and environmental initiatives,” said Santiago.
Santiago said they will continue engaging local communities in environmental protection through its annual Port Community Clean-Up and International Coastal Clean-Up events which are usually held from June to September to coincide with Seafarer’s Month and National Maritime Week.
He said the activities serve as important platforms for raising awareness about waste management and promoting cleaner, greener ports, and coastlines.
"Since we started our quest to improve port infrastructure since 2016 when I assumed, we always take into great consideration the effects of development into the environment and communities surrounding the ports,” said Santiago.
“My directive to the port management offices nationwide is to always ensure environmental sustainability and achieve substantial reductions in port-generated waste, I am glad that we have achieved it over the past eight years,” he added.
Santiago said the PPA is also implementing climate change mitigation measures through its Green Port initiatives, modeled after the Green Port Award System (GPAS) of the APEC Port Service Network (APSN).
Santiago emphasized the agency’s continued focus on sustainability: “With a growing demand for green port solutions, sustainability will be a key focus, this includes energy-efficient operations, environmentally friendly practices, and investments in disaster-resilient infrastructure, especially in the context of climate change.”
“These initiatives are aligned with global trends in renewable energy, decarbonization, and sustainable practices, while also benchmarking against international standards. The agency remains committed to minimizing the environmental impact of extreme weather on port operations and surrounding communities. Through these continued efforts, PPA reaffirms its role as a leader in sustainable port management and environmental responsibility,” he added.