LET US INVITE THE OCEAN CLEANUP ORGANIZATION TO PARTNER WITH US IN THE PHILIPPINES

LET US INVITE THE OCEAN CLEANUP ORGANIZATION TO PARTNER WITH US IN THE PHILIPPINES

If Indonesia and Malaysia are already working with The Ocean Cleanup, why not the Philippines as well? In fact, I’d say we should have been one of their first partners. We are, after all, among the world’s top contributors of plastic waste into the oceans. Some of our discarded plastics may already be floating towards the shores of Indonesia and Malaysia. And worse, studies show that some of it has travelled thousands of kilometers to become part of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Let us not pretend this is somebody else’s problem. Many of these plastics came from our clogged rivers—Pasig, Tullahan, Davao, and many more. Once the rains flush them out to sea, we lose control over where they go. But make no mistake: they carry our “signature” as a nation that has not yet solved its waste problem. That’s why joining the global cleanup effort is not only an environmental responsibility—it is part of our national obligation.

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit environmental engineering organization based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat. Their goal is nothing less than to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040. And they are not just dreamers—they already have the technology and a proven track record.

They operate on two main fronts:

1.   Intercepting plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean, focusing on the 1,000 most polluted rivers that contribute 80% of ocean plastic pollution.

2.   Removing plastic already floating in the oceans, especially in massive accumulation zones like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Their tools are impressive—floating barriers, AI-powered detection systems, drones, and specially designed “Interceptors” that trap plastics in rivers without blocking the natural flow. These are not just concepts; they are deployed right now in countries like Indonesia, Guatemala, Malaysia, and the United States.

The results speak for themselves. In 2024 alone, The Ocean Cleanup removed over 11 million kilograms of plastic from the oceans—more than in all previous years combined. As of 2025, their total removal has surpassed 30 million kilograms. And because they are scaling up their operations, they have brought down the cost of removal dramatically, from €49.4 per kilogram in 2022 to just €5.22 in 2023.

This is exactly the kind of partner we need. But here’s the catch—we must invite them. The government should lead in making the approach, and then the private sector and civil society can follow. We cannot just wait and hope that The Ocean Cleanup will knock on our door.

Some might ask: “Why do we need them? Can’t we clean our own rivers and coastlines?” In theory, yes. In practice, we have been trying for decades without enough impact. Our waste management systems are still overwhelmed, our river cleanup campaigns are often short-lived, and we still lack the advanced equipment and predictive modeling they have mastered.

Besides, joining a global initiative is not about admitting failure—it is about being part of a bigger solution. This is a chance to work alongside countries already making measurable progress, to share data, to learn best practices, and to show the world that we take responsibility for the mess we helped create.

If we do not act, the plastic will keep flowing. The 2023 ocean current simulations by Filipino and Italian researchers are a wake-up call: plastic from our own river deltas can travel more than 10,000 kilometers across the Pacific in just five years. Once there, it swirls endlessly in the North Pacific Gyre, breaking down into microplastics that poison marine life and, eventually, enter our food chain.

Let us also remember the economic angle. The World Bank estimates that marine ecosystems are worth up to $50 trillion annually in services and benefits. Plastic pollution erodes this value, from declining fish stocks to the loss of tourism revenue in coastal areas.

So here’s my suggestion: let us formally propose a partnership between the Philippine government and The Ocean Cleanup—ideally led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). We should identify priority rivers—Pasig, Tullahan, Iloilo, Agusan, Davao—as pilot sites for their Interceptor technology. At the same time, we can explore joint ocean cleanups in areas where Philippine waters contribute significantly to marine plastic accumulation.

This is not just an environmental project—it is a national statement. It says we are willing to do our share in solving a global crisis, not just for the sake of international image, but because our future as a maritime nation depends on healthy seas.

We owe it to the world, yes. But more importantly, we owe it to ourselves.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

10-19-2025