US awards P20-M grants for Manila Bay rehab

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has awarded two grants totalling P20 million to two local groups to reduce marine plastic pollution and support the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

The grants – given to Ecological Waste Coalition of the Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation – will promote and expand community-based recycling programs, improve solid waste management and support research on plastic waste around Manila Bay.  

US embassy deputy chief of mission John Law and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretaries Benny Antiporda and Miguel Cuna presented the grants.

“These partnerships are critical to protecting urban coastal areas that rely on tourism and fisheries sectors. We are proud to work together with the Philippines in finding innovative solutions to keeping plastic waste out of our oceans,” Law said.

He said the two new grants would help protect and preserve the Philippines’ natural resources. 

“The US government is a committed partner in protecting the marine environment in the Philippines,” Law said on Twitter.

The grants are part of the United States Agency for International Development’s municipal waste recycling program.