The success of any initiative to prevent garbage from being discharged at sea demands the interminable cooperation and support of various stakeholders including but not limited to government (at the local and national levels) shipowners, crew, shippers, passengers, manufacturers, port and terminals and the public. The national government through the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) exercises jurisdiction over Philippine-flagged ships wherever they may be operating; the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on the hand has as one of its functions that of inspecting foreign registered ships navigating within Philippine waters. There appears to be a clear delineation of what the mandates of these two agencies are and should therefore make the exercise of regulatory functions less complicated especially in respect of prevention of discharge of ship-generated garbage to the sea.

Pimental, B. V. (2019, May 22). Garbage at sea. The Manila Times, p. B8.