Pasig City, Philippines – On November 5, 2024, representatives from Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) and the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) convened at Discovery Suites Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, to conclude their nearly three-year partnership aimed at tackling marine plastic pollution. The meeting gathered key leaders, including DSSC President Dr. Augie F. Fuentes, Dr. Dela Grace Bacaltos, Nel R. Panaligan, and Richie Boy D. Restauro, to review project achievements and discuss ways to apply the findings toward reducing ocean-bound litter.

This collaboration with CSIRO, an Australian research organization, was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Embassy, and was part of the world's largest marine pollution survey, involving countries like China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the United States. The project gathered real-world data on coastal and city litter to track pollution trends and create strategies to reduce ocean litter globally.

In the Philippines, CSIRO partnered with DSSC, training faculty members Harold F. Fuentes and Jamesphill Flores in Thailand on advanced data collection and monitoring methods. They then trained DSSC students and faculty to conduct extensive data collection across the Davao region, Zambales, CALABARZON, and Puerto Princesa, Palawan. These data will inform global pollution maps and contribute to robust sampling plans tailored specifically for the Philippines.

The wrap-up meeting marked the end of the first wave of data collection, highlighting significant achievements and establishing next steps to mitigate marine plastic pollution. The comprehensive global dataset developed will map pollution sources and project the movement of plastic from urban centers into the oceans, providing valuable insights for future conservation efforts.