Manila: The MV Nilad, a marine cleanup vessel donated by the Republic of Korea, is expected to strengthen the Philippines' capacity to collect floating waste, respond to pollution incidents, and advance the rehabilitation efforts of Manila Bay. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the vessel, funded through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, was donated to the Philippines under the USD8.2-million Enhancement of Marine Litter Management in Manila Bay (EMLM) project.

According to Philippines News Agency, the MV Nilad will significantly expand the government's capacity to carry out on-water cleanup operations in Manila Bay. The vessel arrives as recent scientific findings indicate that sustained cleanup efforts are producing measurable improvements in Manila Bay areas. A survey conducted by De La Salle University-Dasmari±as under the EMLM project found that more than 6.5 million litter items remain scattered along the bay's 190-kilometer coastline, weighing over 203,000 kilograms.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that plastics account for 91 percent of all collected waste, mostly from everyday consumption such as single-use packaging, sachets, plastic bags, beverage containers, and cigarette butts. Despite the scale of the pollution, the survey recorded encouraging progress. Data shows that litter volume in Manila Bay declined by 36 percent in 2024, while the total weight of collected waste dropped by 42 percent across 10 project sites in Cavite, the National Capital Region, and Bataan.

The 25-meter, 101-ton vessel is equipped with a trash skimmer for collecting floating debris, a deck crane for handling and unloading waste, and an oil boom for rapid response to oil spill incidents. The project includes a crane-equipped truck that will facilitate the transport and handling of waste recovered from coastal and marine cleanup activities. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to inaugurate the vessel on Tuesday.

The cooperation between the Philippines and Republic of Korea initiative will span five years. It took effect following the signing of a Special Authority on May 12, 2022.