The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has signed a five-year partnership with global non-profit The Ocean Cleanup to remove floating waste from the Pasig River and deploy low-cost, innovative cleanup technologies. The agreement also covers scientific data sharing and baseline studies to guide long-term action.
Signed this week with support from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague and Dutch Embassy in Manila, the effort complements Republic Act 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which holds companies accountable for plastic packaging waste. It serves as a key technical component of the administration’s flagship “Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli” restoration project, aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal of a clean, navigable river for urban renewal.
The Ocean Cleanup—known for solar-powered, automated waste interceptors—has deployed 21 units across 10 countries and collected over 52 million kilograms of trash as of April 2026. This work in the Manila Bay region is part of its 30 Cities Program, which aims to cut global river plastic flow to oceans by one-third by 2030. Technologies will be adapted to handle the Pasig’s heavy waste volume, with the first interceptor also set for the Meycauayan River in Bulacan.
Over the partnership, skills and technology know-how will be transferred to the Pasig River Coordinating and Management Office to ensure local teams can sustain cleanup efforts long-term. Local firm Energies PH backs the initiative, which officials say combines global expertise, government policy, and community action to stop plastic from reaching Manila Bay and the open ocean.
