Japan-funded project helps LGUs reduce marine litter
While the Philippines has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia, it remains the world’s third-largest source of marine litter
Daily TribuneWhile the Philippines has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia, it remains the world’s third-largest source of marine litter
The Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative addresses the growing concern over marine plastic pollution that endangers the environment, marine ecosystems and public health.
On 15 September, Economic Affairs Minister Nihei Daisuke of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines joined the culmination event of the Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative.
The event highlighted the achievements, experiences and lessons learned by the partner cities and communities in localizing the City Plans of Action for Marine Litter program. The activity also featured the emerging approaches explored by partner cities, such as customized integration of digitization and digital transformation in plastic waste diversion, and the Extended Producer Responsibility readiness of local government units.
A regional initiative of the UN-Habitat in the Philippines and the Government of Japan, the initiative addresses the growing concern over marine plastic pollution that endangers the environment, marine ecosystems and public health. While the Philippines has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia, it remains the world's third-largest source of marine litter.
With UN-Habitat Philippines' lead, the Government of Japan funded $3 million for this project, which ran for three and a half years, from April 2020 to September 2023, and was piloted in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Calapan, Davao, Legazpi, Manila and Ormoc.
The project primarily provided support for improved governance structures and capacities for the localization of the National Plan of Action for Marine Litter and the vertical integration of the marine plastic litter response. The project also assisted the cities in improving technology and systems for marine plastic litter reduction.
In his speech, Nihei expressed his hopes that the gains and lessons learned from the implementation of HOCCI will inspire synergies and deepen partnerships at the community, national and international levels to work hand in hand in reducing marine litter.
