Politics · Philippines Bureau
DENR pursues extended producer responsibility to tackle waterway pollution
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is implementing immediate cleanup efforts across Metro Manila's waterways while simultaneously developing long-term strategies to prevent future garbage accumulation. The initiatives come after heavy monsoon rains deposited significant waste into urban waterways, prompting presidential intervention.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pursuing extended producer responsibility (EPR) and other comprehensive measures as part of a broader strategy to address persistent garbage pollution in the country's waterways.
The move follows large-scale debris accumulation in Metro Manila's waterways during the recent southwest monsoon season, which prompted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to direct sustained cleanup operations across affected areas. While emergency response teams continue removing accumulated waste from rivers and coastal zones, the DENR has shifted focus toward systemic solutions that address the root causes of waterway pollution.
Extended producer responsibility frameworks aim to make manufacturers and distributors responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including disposal and recycling. The DENR is also exploring the Philippine Extended Producer Responsibility Corporate Alliance System (PENCAS) as a complementary approach to mobilize private sector participation in waste management.
Environment officials acknowledged that seasonal monsoons will continue to wash debris into waterways, making prevention through better waste management practices essential. The twin approach of immediate cleanup coupled with structural reforms reflects the government's commitment to protecting the country's aquatic ecosystems from mounting plastic and solid waste pollution.