The Maritime Industry Authority teamed up with a United Nations (UN) agency to train government officials and port authorities on building stronger waste management systems to reduce marine pollution in Philippine waters.

The two-day workshop, hosted at the MARINA Central Office in Manila, brought together 35 representatives from key government agencies and port management offices.

The event was organized alongside the International Maritime Organization through its regional marine litter initiative with the Food and Agriculture Organization.

This initiative aims to expand port reception facilities for ship-generated waste, curb illegal dumping, and enforce compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, an international treaty known as MARPOL.

IMO experts led sessions covering waste assessment, collection procedures, monitoring strategies, and marine litter prevention.

Workshop participants also analyzed a case study of a major Manila port’s waste management model to identify strategies that can be deployed to other facilities nationwide.