More than a quarter of rivers worldwide responsible for 80% of ocean plastic pollution are found in the Philippines, with Pasig River and 18 other Philippine rivers (including two in Iloilo City and province) among the top 50 polluting rivers in the world, according to a scientific study released by the publication Ocean Cleanup in the journal Science Advances. According to a statement from the Climate Change Commission, the researchers designed a tool to track plastics flowing into the oceans, which calculated that 454 ‘very small’ rivers contribute 25 percent of global annual emissions, while 360 ‘small rivers’ make up 24 percent of emissions. One hundred sixty-two (162) ‘medium rivers’ are responsible for 22 percent of emissions, while 18 ‘large’ and six ‘very large’ rivers contribute to two percent and one percent of plastic emissions respectively. Other rivers of varying sizes contribute to 26 percent of the pollution.

Iloilo, Jalaur Rivers among top plastic-emitting in the world - study. (2021, June 11). Daily Guardian, pp. 1, 11.