CCBO 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Strategy Alignment Assessment – Philippines

As an archipelagic country consisting of almost 7,500 islands, an expanding coastal population, and rapid economic growth, plastic waste generation and management are critical components to protecting the environment of the Philippines and livelihood of the Philippine people. As of late 2020, the Philippines has a new (in draft) national marine debris plan, The National Plan of Action for Marine Litter (NPOA-ML), with a focus on improving solid waste management and recycling markets, promoting a shift to sustainable business models, providing enabling policies for circular economy, reducing litter from marine sources, collecting baseline and ongoing data on marine pollution and policy implementation, promoting a large scale mass media education campaign, and conducting cleanups of existing and riverine marine litter.

In August 2019, Tetra Tech was awarded the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) Program, a five-year, $48 million contract from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Economic Growth, Education, and Environment. CCBO is the Agency’s flagship program to respond to the global crisis of marine plastic pollution and includes the Philippines as one of its seven focal countries. CCBO’s objectives and its Year One+ Workplan (May 2020 – September 2021) for the Philippines has strong alignment with the draft marine debris plan, by also focusing on enhancing solid waste management and reduce, reuse, recycle practices; building social and behavioral change through educational and community efforts; and establishing effective policy with sustainable implementation. CCBO also offers support for the Philippines’ progress toward its marine debris plan in its engagement sites of Iloilo City, Batangas City, and the Manila Bay area (Pasig and Las Piñas Cities).

In general, CCBO has strong alignment with the draft NPOA-ML especially in enhancing solid waste management and reduce, reuse, recycle (3R) practices, building SBC through educational and community efforts, and establishing effective policy with sustainable implementation. Of particular relevance to CCBO’s work are the NPOA-ML’s Action Items 3 (Enhance recovery and recycling coverage and markets) and 4 (Prevent leakage from collected or disposed waste), which align with CCBO Objective 1 to promote reduce, reuse, recycle (3Rs) practices and strengthen local and regional markets for recycled plastics. The draft NPOA-ML also acknowledges a need for technical expertise, policy recommendations, and baseline research—all recognized as essential by CCBO.

To inform CCBO’s approach and highlight the ways in which CCBO can support the Philippines’ existing marine debris strategies and to provide recommendations for increased impact, the program has produced this 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Reduction Strategy for the Philippines. In terms of prioritization and timing, addressing historical barriers should come first and any projects related to data gathering, monitoring and assessment (especially if baseline data is desired before starting other projects). In addition, supporting livelihoods, gender, and inclusion can be interwoven into every project as a part of the overall CCBO context. Community engagement is critical at initial stages and authentic inclusion in the process will build local relationships. Other partnership creation can be cultivated in initial years but implemented in subsequent years after developing relationships. With a lot of work within the region in general, CCBO can continue to assess the regional context to leverage projects and programs conducted at a regional scale.