ADB approves $500 mln loan to support a sustainable Philippine blue economy

MANILA: The Asian Development Bank has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to support the Philippines’ blue economy, focusing on protecting its marine ecosystem against threats posed by extreme weather and plastic pollution.

The programme, which will be co-financed by Agence Française de Développement and Germany’s KfW Development Bank with each providing about $235 million, aims to ensure ecological resilience as the Philippines taps its ocean resources through industrial fishing, tourism and offshore energy.

“This is ADB’s first extensive cross-sector program focused on fostering national blue economy development in the region,” ADB Philippines Country Director Andrew Jeffries said in a statement.

“We are committed to assisting our host country in achieving its climate resilience and low-carbon objectives.”

The programme will help tackle plastic pollution in the Philippines, where about 750,000 metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year from coastal areas such as Manila Bay.

It will help enforce the Extended Producer Responsibility law by introducing clear, uniform labels on plastic products and recyclables, aligning local waste management guidelines, and promoting a circular economy, the ADB said.

The programme also aims to build a strong legal and institutional framework for managing coastal and marine resources, as the Philippines, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, faces typhoons, floods, and rising seas that threaten ecosystems and livelihoods.

Last year, the Philippines was hit by six deadly typhoons in the space of a month, and in a rare occurrence in November, saw four tropical cyclones develop at the same time, suggesting that the storms might now be happening over shorter timeframes.