(Volunteers collect trash along the coastline. /CFP)

On September 13, hundreds of fishermen and community volunteers took part in a large coastal cleanup in the City of Navotas, Manila. Armed with bags and tools, they collected plastic bottles, bags, and discarded fishing gear scattered along the beach and in shallow waters.

(Volunteers collect trash along the coastline. /CFP)

The Philippines is among the countries most affected by marine plastic pollution, with huge amounts of waste flowing into the ocean each year through its rivers. Piles of trash along the coast not only block waterways and raise the risk of flooding but also pose a serious threat to marine life.

Studies show that even small tides often cause seawater to flood back inland, damaging homes, farmland, and fishing grounds, and severely affecting the livelihoods of coastal residents.

In addition to plastic pollution, coastal areas like Navotas face the twin challenges of rising sea levels and unregulated land reclamation. The shoreline that Filipino fishermen once relied on continues to recede, and fishing conditions are worsening—changes closely tied to the global climate crisis.