Volunteers collect marine litter during a monthly clean-up activity. (Photo credit: KOICA Philippines)
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) successfully conducted its first training program under the Enhancement of Marine Litter Management in Manila Bay (EMLM) project on February 17, 2023.
The five-day training on Marine Litter Monitoring Survey Methodology and Field Practice was attended by 25 participants from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Ecowaste Coalition, and De La Salle University. KOICA’s project implementing agency, Korea’s Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), led the training and shared procedures and best practices on marine litter monitoring survey.
KOICA Deputy Country Director YOO Ji Young emphasized that the conduct of monitoring survey was an essential component of the project. She noted that through the collection and analysis of data on the quantities, characteristics and sources of marine litter, KOICA and DENR could better formulate the action plan for the management of marine litter in Manila Bay.
The US$ 7.7-million EMLM project aims to strengthen the environmental protection system of Manila Bay and enhance behavior changes toward marine pollution reduction and prevention. KOICA will establish a marine litter management strategy, conduct marine and coastal clean-up programs, and construct a clean-up vessel for litter collection. The second phase of the capacity building program will be held in Korea in April this year, where 15 local officials will be trained in marine litter policies, monitoring and recycling.
Together with its partners from the government and civil society, KOICA will continue to carry out project activities to reduce and manage marine litter in Manila Bay and its surrounding areas.
The Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA), one of the project’s local non-governmental organization (NGO) partners, organized a clean-up and awareness program in support of the monitoring survey. The My OSEAN Mission campaign invited Citizen Scientist Volunteers who would be trained in proper marine litter data collection and participate in monthly clean-up activities for the whole year. (KOICA Philippines)
This article originally appeared on https://www.facebook.com/philippineskoica/posts/pfbid02fSuwEQpfe22QECic4B2c1Tbi7qkmAisNWH6VMBhUpJzc7rW8wXvrxSUBB4Q6Mqfl
