WHATEVER we’ve been doing seems to be working. Manila Bay is getting cleaner. This is according to a three-year survey of the Manila Bay coastline funded by Korea. Credit can be given to the intensified cleanup campaigns by government and the private sector, stronger enforcement of solid waste management laws, and heightened public awareness. Still, we must do more to sustain these gains, by supporting long-term, science-based investments in solid waste management and ensuring consistent enforcement.
The Marine Litter Monitoring Survey in Manila Bay (2023-2025), funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency through the Korea Marine Environment Management Corp. (KOEM) and Our Sea of East Asia Network in partnership with the EcoWaste Coalition of the Philippines, found a significant reduction in marine litter during the study period.
The findings are very encouraging. From 2023 to 2025, total litter counts along the Manila Bay coast dropped by 47.6 percent from 52.3 items per meter to 27.4 items per meter. And the total litter weight declined significantly by 44.5 percent from 2,251.6 grams per meter to 1,248.6 grams per meter.
This is a big win for policymakers and enforcers. However, to see lasting change, behavioral change is also critical. People must take greater responsibility for managing their personal and household waste. Despite the improvements, plastics still dominate — accounting for 91 percent of total litter count and 66 percent of total waste weight.
Beyond community cleanups, much of the burden of keeping waterways clean falls on frontline public workers. The DENR deploys around 2,700 Estero Rangers and River Warriors, men and women tasked with clearing waterways across Metro Manila. Their work supports the 2008 Supreme Court mandamus directing 13 government agencies, headed by the DENR, to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay. These workers physically and manually haul trash and water hyacinths out of our waterways. They are, quite literally, fishing out Metro Manila’s garbage from our rivers, esteros and canals.
In January, then-Environment secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga recognized the Estero Rangers and River Warriors for their exemplary leadership not only in cleaning up the Manila Bay coastal areas but also in protecting communities from flooding by clearing urban tributaries during the rainy season. The DENR committed to strengthening policies on illegal dumping, improving waste management, and equipping workers with modern cleanup technologies, such as trash-trap systems and water filtration solutions. Support for their welfare has expanded, including training, continued education, scholarships and healthcare.
Their role continues to evolve. The DENR-NCR regional executive director, lawyer Michael Drake Matias, recently announced that Estero Rangers will now also contribute to wildlife rescue operations, urban greening, gardening, and community education programs on waste management and water conservation. Estero Rangers and River Warriors have become a critical first line of defense, not just for environmental protection, but for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.
The reduction in marine litter in Manila Bay is a strong validation of sustained government-led and multisectoral efforts. But this is not the time to relax. Long-term monitoring, consistent cleanup operations, and stronger waste reduction strategies remain essential. The Philippines already has key policies in place, including the Expanded Producer Responsibility Law mandating large enterprises to be responsible for their plastic packaging and RA 9003 or the Expanded Solid Waste Management Act which mandate waste reduction, segregation at source, and the establishment of Materials Recovery Facilities by local government units.
Yet plastics remain the dominant pollutant, particularly single-use items such as sachets, wrappers, beverage containers and utensils. Hard plastics and plastic films make up the bulk of this waste.
Plastics never disappear. They simply move somewhere else, like into waterways, oceans and ecosystems, eventually becoming someone else’s problem. They are durable and buoyant, making them persistent pollutants. Over time, they break down into microplastics, carrying harmful contaminants that threaten marine life through ingestion, entanglement and habitat destruction. This then affects fisheries, seafood safety and ultimately our human health.
The gains we are seeing in Manila Bay prove that progress is possible. Cleaning up Manila Bay isn’t as simple as picking up trash. We cannot rely indefinitely on Estero Rangers and River Warriors to clean up after us. We are not toddlers. Real, lasting change will come from a combination of strong policy, sustained enforcement and more mindful consumption. The responsibility belongs to all of us.