Puerto Princesa City is set to receive financial and technical support for projects aimed at reducing plastic waste entering its coastal and marine environment under a regional program supported by the South Korean government.
The assistance will come through the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region, which is funded by South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and implemented by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).
PEMSEA Regional Project Manager Dr. Won-Tae Shin discussed the planned implementation of the project during a courtesy call on Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron at the City Mayor’s Office on September 17.
Puerto Princesa is among six pilot sites in the Philippines selected for the project. The regional program, which runs from 2023 to 2028, covers 10 pilot sites in the Philippines and Timor-Leste.
The project seeks to reduce marine plastic pollution through improved waste management, recycling, marine litter monitoring, community awareness programs and other approaches that may be adopted by participating local governments.
During the meeting, Bayron raised concerns over the increasing volume of plastic waste brought to the city’s sanitary landfill.
He welcomed PEMSEA’s technical assistance in helping the city develop measures for waste segregation and plastic management.
Shin said PEMSEA would coordinate with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office in carrying out the project.
“We will do our best to support the City ENRO and work closely with them to find better solutions,” he said.
The city government and PEMSEA also discussed a proposed memorandum of agreement and the next steps needed before the project can be implemented.
City ENRO officer Atty. Carlo Gomez accompanied Shin during the courtesy call.
Details on the specific activities to be supported, the implementation schedule and the project’s waste-reduction targets have yet to be announced.
