Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe, Caroline Marie B. Jaraula, Maria Kristina O. Paler
The Philippines was reported as one of the top plastic polluters (macroplastics and microplastics (MPs)) to the marine coastal environment, which necessitated the development and enforcement of plastic regulation policies. However, the nexus between the growing research on macroplastic/MP and the plastic regulation policies in the country is unexplored. Current review suggests that macroplastic/MP research in the Philippines is still in its infancy owing to methodological and technological constraints to apportion the sources and fluxes, characterize macroplastics/MPs, and identify influencing socio-environmental factors. While government efforts are underway, it is also unclear if local researches on macroplastics/MPs were the basis in institutionalizing the existing plastic regulation policies. Therefore the nexus between the researches carried out on this problem and the policies enforced cannot be concluded. Overall, this review presents gaps on the macroplastic/MP research needing more work on the problem to establish a sound science plastic regulation policy. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Philippines; Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines, Philippines; Organic and Stable Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory, Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Philippines; Department of Biology, University of San Carlos, Philippines
