MANILA, Philippines — The environment department’s Environmental Management Bureau said Thursday it will install 268 trash traps in tributaries leading to the Pasig, Tullahan, Meycauayan, and Pampanga rivers, which are considered to be among the country’s most polluted.
EMB Director William Cuñado said the project aims to improve waste collection and disposal within the tributaries, which can help reduce flooding during the rainy season.
The project will support the agency’s National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter that serves as a blueprint to enhance the current efforts in resource and waste management.
“We need to control the additional leakage of waste into our water bodies,” Cuñado said.
Under the memorandum of agreement that will be entered into by the EMB regional office and the recipient local government units, procurement items such as brand new trash traps, manually operated waste lifter, plastic boat, and tools for operations will be distributed to the concerned LGUs.
LGUs will monitor the trash traps installed in their jurisdiction. Local governments will also handle the collection, hauling and proper disposal of waste from the trash traps, and the maintenance and operation of the equipment.
“Engagement of collection and disposal services through the LGUs will also be included to ensure that the collected waste will be properly disposed of,” Cuñado said.
A budget of over P250.4 million is allocated for the project.
The Philippines was the largest contributing country to the plastic waste that reaches the ocean, according to a 2021 study of The Ocean Cleanup. The Dutch non-profit identified the 27-kilometer Pasig River as the most polluted by plastics.