Philippines looks to tackle severe water pollution

Rod Ison, a longtime fisherman, notes the extreme difficulty of fishing in Manila Bay due to overwhelming garbage and stench, a common struggle for hundreds of Filipino fishermen relying on the polluted waters for their livelihood.

Greenpeace identifies disposable plastics as a primary cause of pollution in Manila Bay and across the Philippines, with giant companies and their consumers contributing significant plastic waste to the oceans.

Due to poverty, Filipino families often purchase cheap goods in small quantities, driving the 'sachet economy'. This practice, while meeting consumer needs, has made the Philippines the third-largest ocean polluter globally, behind China and Indonesia.

Despite having an ecological solid waste management law, the Philippines lacks sufficient infrastructure to manage waste effectively, and the law is not properly implemented across all government levels.

The Philippine government acknowledges the need for a national policy and is considering a total ban on single-use plastics and similar packaging materials to combat pollution.

Despite spectacular sunsets, Manila Bay is gaining an unwanted reputation for its wasted potential due to severe pollution, as reported by Jamal Al-in Duggan of Al Jazeera.