The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has collected more than 1.1 million kg. of ocean waste since 2016 as part of its regular port and coastal clean-up activities.

In a statement on Friday, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago noted a steady decline in the total amount of waste collected in all PPA-governed ports from 138,173 kg. in 2016 to 45,321 kg. in the first half of 2024.

“Notably, waste collection dropped dramatically from 289,628 kg. in 2018 to 77,860 kg. in 2023, reflecting the agency’s effective waste management and environmental initiatives,” Santiago said.

The agency’s efforts in ocean clean-up, he said, began as part of port infrastructure improvements when he first sat at the agency’s helm in 2016.

“My directive to the port management offices nationwide is to always ensure environmental sustainability and achieve substantial reductions in port-generated waste, I am glad that we have achieved it over the past eight years,” he said.

Santiago highlighted several PPA ports that have been recognized by the Green Port Award System (GPAS), such as the Port of Batangas in 2017, the Port of Cagayan de Oro in 2018 and 2021, the Manila International Container Terminal in 2022, the Port of Surigao in 2023, and the Port of General Santos in 2024.

“The PPA is implementing climate change mitigation measures through its green port initiatives, modeled after the GPAS of the APEC Port Service Network, and these awards highlight the success of the agency’s green initiatives and its leadership in creating sustainable port operations across the Philippines,” he said.

Sustainability, he said, would continue to be a focal point at the PPA, such as energy-efficient operations, environment-friendly practices, and investments in disaster-resilient infrastructure, especially in the context of climate change.

“These initiatives are aligned with global trends in renewable energy, decarbonization, and sustainable practices, while also benchmarking against international standards,” Santiago said. (PNA)