Mr. Jomil Villanueva, STEM chair of La Consolacion College Bacolod, presented findings from the study “Mapping Solid Waste Footprints: Characterizing and Brand Identification of Marine Debris in Bacolod City” before city officials, environmental advocates and academic partners during the World Statistics Day celebration on Oct. 14, 2025, at La Proa, L’ Fisher Hotel. Among the researchers was Mr. Felix Adrian Dalida, Quality Assurance Officer of LCC Bacolod.
The study, a component of the 3rProMar project implemented by GIZ Philippines, mapped debris pathways and traced brands and manufacturers associated with plastic litter collected at the Singcang Airport rivermouth and nearby coastal areas. Using detailed waste characterization and brand identification protocols, the team quantified both quantity and mass of debris and plotted their distribution with GIS tools.
Researchers reported plastics as the dominant waste type, with low-density polyethylene (PE-LD) used in food packaging comprising the largest share. The team also identified leading consumer brands frequently present in the waste stream, underscoring the role of fast-moving consumer goods in marine litter.
“The results reinforce the urgent call for shared responsibility among producers, consumers and government agencies,” Villanueva said. “This study is not just about identifying waste, but about identifying accountability and solutions.”
Findings pointed to gaps in segregation and enforcement under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) and highlighted the need to strengthen implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022. Recommendations include boosting barangay-level collection and recycling, enhancing coastal cleanup and monitoring, and deepening public-private collaboration on circular economy measures.
Dalida said the data provide a quality-assured baseline for policy and program design. “By linking debris types to likely sources, we can prioritize interventions where they will have the greatest impact,” he said.
City planners and partner agencies co-organizing the event emphasized that the study’s evidence base will inform Bacolod’s coastal management and solid waste strategies, aligning local action with broader 3rProMar objectives to reduce marine plastic pollution.